nazunyan427

Tori’s Substory

姫君のご機嫌

As No-Tori-ously Haughty As Ever

Writer: Akira

Season: Summer

Tori:

Mm… Mmm… Urgh…

Izumi:

Hm? You shouldn’t scrunch up your face like that, Momo-kun. You look like a widdle rat.

Tori:

How dare you! I’m no rodent; I have the most beautiful, lovely, angelic face in the whole world, and that’s a fact!

—I mean, never mind that. I wanna ask you about something, Sena-senpai!

Izumi:

Oho? Sure. You’re always letting me grouch to you about whatever’s bugging me.

But hold on just a sec.

First, I have a very important duty at hand: making sure Yuu-kun’s towel is washed as thoroughly as possible, until it’s as soft and fluffy and sparkling white as it was when he first bought it!

Tori:

Ugh, could you not? That’s gotta be some sort of violation! What’ll happen to me when it’s found out one of my tennis club seniors ended up with a prison sentence? This could end up on my track record!

Izumi:

What are you on about? I’m not violating anything.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with an older brother making sure his little brother has a nice, clean towel to use. And on the off chance it is a violation, then there’s something wrong with the laws of this country.

Tori:

How can you say something so creepy and be so serious about it at the same time? I don’t get you at all! You’re scaring me!

Besides, that four-eyes isn’t even your real little brother in the first place. Right?

Tossing a stranger's towel into the washing machine may not be a violation of the law, but it sure feels like a violation of something! Just ‘cause something’s legal doesn’t make it okay!

Izumi:

Don’t be silly; I’d never toss Yuu-kun’s towel carelessly into a washing machine. I’ll wash every inch of that towel by hand, with as much tender loving care as an older brother should.

Tori:

Somebody save me! He’s freaking me out! You’re downright unhinged, Sena-senpai! I feel like I need some sort of restraining order!

Nazuna:

Hey! What’re you two makin’ such a fuss about?

You’ve clearly got energy to burn, so go take a lap around the court. Both of you could use the workout!

We got our butts handed to us in that practice match we just had. Boy, our club advisor sure let me have it.

Yumenosaki may prioritize idol activities first and foremost, but that doesn’t mean we can slack off when it comes to club stuff.

Well, I guess Izumi-chin’s still a beginner and there’s not much that can be done about that.

We used to be pretty renowned, y’know. Our tennis club, I mean. That’s why we get one of the few clubrooms available all to ourselves.

But if we keep piling up losses like this, some other club’s gonna take over this place.

Izumi:

No, that can’t happen! This room belongs to me and Yuu-kun; it’s our little love nest…

Besides, weren’t you the one who lost the match, Nazunyan? You’re one to talk, after you abandoned me and paired up with Yuu-kun without so much as a glance back!

Nazuna:

Nah, Mako-chin made it pretty clear he didn’t wanna pair up with you.

Both of you guys’ play styles clash too much, and you just keep getting in each other’s way. You’re not exactly cut out for doubles in the first place.

I let you guys pair up during practice ‘cause you’d never let me hear the end of it otherwise, Izumi-chin. But there’s only so much I can let you get away with before things start to get messy.

Mako-chin starts shrinking away from you outta fear, and you barely pay attention to the ball ‘cause you’re too busy gazing at Mako-chin’s face the whole time.

Come to think of it, you guys both might be better off playing singles from now on. Momo-chin can partner up with me for doubles!

Tori:

Mm... No, I don’t wanna partner up with someone as cute as me. I won’t be able to stand out as much.

I wanna be the only cute one, me! I don’t want you stealing the spotlight, Captain.

Nazuna:

Quit it with the “cute, cute!”...

Fine, we’ll all just do singles. Both of you guys have such huge egos, I feel like no matter who I pair you up with it’s not gonna end well.

And Mako-chin’s still reluctant to really open up that much to any of us... Y’know, sometimes I really don’t understand how you guys handle being part of a unit in the first place. Boy, I feel sorry for all of your unitmates who’ve gotta put up with all this me, me, me behavior.

Tori:

Heheh, it can get lonely at the top!

Izumi:

If you’re going to feel sorry for someone, feel sorry for me! Not a single member of Knights listens to a word I say!

Makoto:

Uh... Izumi-san? Do you think I could get my towel back?

I wanna get changed and gather up all my stuff as fast as I can, so I can scoot on over to practice with the rest of Trickstar...

Izumi:

What? But after we finished reviewing the match we just played we were going to go straight into more practice, weren’t we?

Then at the end of the day, the two of us can walk home, hand in hand, all the while gazing up at the warm orange tinge of the setting sun...

Tori:

Stop being creepy. Can you even distinguish between reality and the weird fantasies inside your own head at this point? Clearly not if that look in your eyes is anything to go by!

Nazuna:

Oh yeah, Mako-chin already let me know he’d have to leave halfway through to meet up with Trickstar. You guys have got a DreamFest coming up soon, right? Good luck!

Makoto:

Yeah! Of course I wanna practice tennis too, but—

—I feel like I’m still dragging everyone in Trickstar down, so I’d prefer to prioritize them at the moment.

Izumi:

Yuu-kun, if you’re worried about your progress, I’d be happy to tutor you.

Makoto:

So anyway, I’d best be on my way over—to make sure I get there on time! ... Izumi-san, please just give me my towel back already.

Tori:

Sena-senpai, there’s this really tough song I’m trying to go over. Help me out here, seeing as you’re so free!

Makoto:

Yes! Let him teach you all he knows, Himemiya-kun! Izumi-san’s a great teacher!

Tori:

Who said you could butt in? Bugger on off onto your dance practice, would you?

Izumi:

Now look here!

Momo-kun, that’s not any way to speak to Yuu-kun! You need to be more gentle and tender with your words, like—like the way you’d talk to a newborn baby!

Tori:

No way. Besides, Trickstar is the enemy.

I may have lost to you at DDD by some fluke, but anyone can see that I’m superior to you in every way, got it? So don’t you dare let it get to your head!

Makoto:

No, I agree. That’s why I’m doing all this extra practice... You’re only a first year, Himemiya-kun, but you already excel at so many things. You have my respect!

Tori:

H-Hmph! As long as you’ve got it through your head!

Izumi:

You’re wonderful too, Yuu-kun! Be more confident! Though you’ve still got a long, long, long… Long way to go as an idol. Come on, hurry up and catch up to your big bro!

The two of us should walk home together, shoulder to shoulder, hand in hand—

Nazuna:

—And back to tennis practice for you, Izumi-chin! You’ve had plenty of time to cool off, so let’s hop on over to the tennis court. You too, Momo-chin!

Tori:

Yeah... Urgh, I hate losing! I’m so mad...

I’m gonna practice and practice and make it so those losers who made me taste defeat all bow down before me!

Izumi:

Haha. I thought you seemed in a bad mood today. Yeah, losing is infuriating; no wonder you’re sulking.

Well, I suppose I better put some work in myself. I only joined this tennis club because of Yuu-kun, but it’s actually gotten kind of enjoyable lately...

Nazuna:

That’s the spirit! Let’s all jump to it! Mako-chin, if you’ve still got some time after you’re done with your lesson, come on back over here, ‘kay?

We can go over today’s match while we grab dinner together.

Makoto:

Got it! Alright, I’m gonna head on over to my lesson! See you guys later!

Nazuna:

Good work today! … That guy’s smile has gotten a whole lot brighter recently.

Izumi:

You see it too? Yeah, Yuu-kun is really making the most of his youth.

Tori:

He’s just full of himself ‘cause he won against us—which did NOT count, by the way!

... Urgh, I’m still mad! I wanna get better already and make all those guys as cocky as him grovel at my feet!

Nazuna:

Right, and persistence is the best recipe for success! Let’s get down to it, Momo-chin!

Tori:

You got it! Let’s go, Yumenosaki Tennis Club!

(Eheheh. I only joined this club ‘cause of the rule about mandatory extracurricular activities… And I only went with the tennis club ‘cause I happen to have some experience there.

But recently… It’s actually turned out to be more fun than I thought.)