Chapter 12 [Elementary Days (pt.9)]

Such a lovely day, a scenery of clear, blue sky and occasional chirpings from the flying birds. Here, we gaze at Emiko's enchanting abode, but unusual to the ordinary days, there was a red bike parked in front of the fence. Beside the bike was a young boy, close to Emiko's age, taking some deep breaths. It was as if he was preparing for something crazy yet-

"EMIKO!!! WAKE UP!! I'M HERE AND YOU KNOW IT!"

The grey haired boy shouted so clear that even the neighbors opened their windows and told the rude boy to shut the hell up. However, the enthusiastic one paid no attention to the bystanders. Whilst inside the Shimizu household,

"Hmm? What's going on, dear?"

"Oh, good morning hun. It seems to be that a certain boy woke up the whole neighborhood," he laughed.

"Mom? Dad?"

"Emiko! Did you wake up?"

"Yeah, heard something pretty weird. Did you hear it too?" the girl asked.

The gorgeous mother explained, "Just some weird kid. Nothing for you to worry about-"

"EMIKO!!! I KNOW YOU'RE AWAKE! DON'T MAKE ME GO LOOK FOR YOU!"

"Did he...did that boy just say your name, Emiko?" the dilf stuttered.

"OH...hahaha, of course not! You just probably heard it wrong!"

But contrast to her words, the little Shimizu quickly leaned over to the windows. She squinted her eyes and managed to find a slight hint of grey hair.

'That *****, he actually came over?!?'

Now, let's back up a few days before this very scene. It was when Kazuo delivered the news of resigning from the soccer team.

"WHAT?!? Kazuo Sugawara, are you in your right mind? This must be a prank, right? So stop being stupid as you always are because I held it in until today!"

As you can see, the soccer coach was as flabbergasted as a meerkat. Unfortunately, the little Sugawara was serious.

"Nah, I'm really not joking coach-well, I guess I'll have to call you sensei now."

"But why?!? I thought you loved soccer! You're even the best player on our team, we also are the favorites for the nationals this year!! You can't just leave!!!"

"You'll be fine, it's not like the team can't survive without me. We also got that newbie, the one with hella strong legs? Yeah, he'll be the next trump card or whatever, so no worries!"

"That's, urgh. *sigh* Fine, you win. But at least tell me why you want to resign first."

"Oh, it's because I just want to...just...I want...uh..."

Unexpectedly, Kazuo blew up with smoke coming out of his head. He then mumbled so words.

"Huh? I can't hear you, kid."

"It's...um...someone...special, I guess."

"Someone special?" The old man looked around the place, when he saw three girls behind his ex-soccer kid.

"Oooh," he lifted his eyebrows and smirked, "Young love, huh?"

"Shut up old man!"

"What did you just call me?"

Without hesitation, Kazuo ran away from his ex-coach and grabbed Emiko's hand before running out of the clubroom.

"Wait! Kazuo *gasp* let me *gasp* breathe first!"

"Hm? Oh, sorry! Just...got nervous around and stuff!"

'Nervous my ***! You obviously got embarrassed from that teasing! Like dude, I get that you have a crush on me and all but no need for all this drama!!!'

"Back to the point, when should I come over?"

"Huh?" Emiko responded.

"I told you, I'll be joining your volleyball practice from now on!"

"Oh ****, I forgot about that!"

"...****?"

Of course, Emiko just had to be a bad influence on Kazuo.

"...yeah, don't say that stuff. It's a really bad word."

"If you can say it, why not me? And what word? ****?"

"It's...um, complicated! And just so you know, I also try my very best to not say words like those stuff! So you should too!"

"...okay, ****."

"No!!! Don't-you know what? Whatever."

'I should be at least proud to introduce my friend to the other world,' she thought happily.

"SO, when should I come over to your house? Oh, I also will need your address."

'Hmmm, I should set it up in a way so he'll just give up on practicing with me.'

"How about 4 am? That's the only time I'll be free tomorrow," the girl lied.

"Sure!"

"Yeah, yeah I thought so. That's why it's such a pity you won't be able to-wait, what?"

"Sure, I said sure. Like, why not?"

"Well...okay, whatever. Let me write down my address first."

Emiko grabbed a random piece of paper and wrote her address with a pretty pen.

"Here. Also, if you don't get there ON TIME, forget about having practice with me. Okay?"

"Okay!!!" He exclaimed.

The sweet, little Shimizu thought her plan would work...oh little did she know-

"EMIKO!!! COME OUT, I'M HERE! 4AM, JUST LIKE YOU TOLD ME TO!!!"

That crazy grandpa-haired boy just had to follow the requirements!

"Sweetie, we know you're affiliated with that boy. No point hiding now, so is your boyfriend?" Her mom asked.

"What? NO! There's no way that my sweet little princess could date such a rubbish like him!" Emiko's father emphasized.

"First of all, he's not my boyfriend. Secondly, he seemed to have invited himself over for volleyball practice," the daughter explained.

"Volleyball practice? But I thought you would do that in the afternoon? Why is he so early?"

Emiko then told the situation from scratch to both her parents. They quickly understood and responded properly to the event.

"COME IN! Sugawara-san, right? You must be Emiko's friend. It's so nice to hear that ***** of mine actually has a friend!"

"Yes yes, you must be after my daughter too? It'll be hard since her standards are too high, but try your best boy! I'm going to make your life a living hell!!!"

Surprisingly, and not what Emiko wanted, the two couple enthusiastically welcomed Emiko's friend. They knew she had acquaintances, but this was the first time one of them actually came to the Shimizu house!

"Oh, um, yes. Please pardon my intrusion!"

"No need! You're more than welcome to the Shimizu house! We also heard you came to practice volleyball with our daughter?"

"Uh, yes?"

"Good! Then you can go to the backyard with our daughter! Though you'll have to be very quiet while practicing, it'll be very fun for you two! Emiko! Bring your friend and teach him whatever you want! This is part of your responsibility after all!!!"

"Okay! I got it, no need to yell you *****!!"

"Shut the **** up you *****! Oh, and Sugawara-san? We'll be having breakfast around 6, is that alright?"

"Uh, sure?"

"Good! Now off you go to our daughter! But just so you know, bedrooms are off-limits," the man warned the boy.

"Y-yes!"

Emiko then dragged the boy outside with warm clothing and a volleyball. There, Kazuo stuttered his surprise.

"I...thought your parents would be more strict."

"Hm? What do you mean by that?"

"Well, if it was my parents, they would've given the meanest glares and kicked the yeller out of the house. If they were really annoyed, they'd even call the police!"

"...oh, well that's harsh."

"Wow, thanks for the support," he sarcastically replied.

"What? How do you want me to respond to that? Like 'OMG! Your parents are amazing!!!' or 'Gosh, they just, I don't know, have to be canceled!!!' Um, no thank you."

"Pfft, true. So, what should I learn coach?"

Though the female protagonist was startled from the new alias, she realized that Kazuo was now her student. An evil though circulated her mind.

'Nah, let's wait for that in the future.'

"We'll be going over the basics. So let's go over receives for now."

"Okay, sounds easy enough," the boy answered.

If only he knew...the torture he'd face.

Extra:

Kazuo: By the way, what's ****, ******, and *********?

Emiko: ...

Kasumi (Emiko's mom): ...

Goro (Emiko's dad): See, I told you girls to stop that ****.