53 3.10- What She Can Do, I Can Definitely Do Better... (1/2)

Friday, 12th May 1995

3:15 pm

The school bell rang and another slowly and dreadfully slow paced school week had ended and everyone was looking forward to the futsal match on Saturday at 10 am held at the Inazawa Futsal Stadium near the Okuda Station just 35 mins away from Asahigaoka High School.

Nearly everyone was talking about it as the defending champions was Aichi Commercial High School. They were undefeated for the past 2 years and its all up to us to topple their position and to take the glory soon.

Meeting in school will be the usual school hours tomorrow where several school bus will ferry us to Inazawa Futsal Stadium. Nearly the whole school would be there tomorrow following the overwhelming response from the supporters.

I flipped my phone and sent an SMS to Akira asking her if she was free and accompany me to the President of the Sports Committee's office. Soon Akira's head poked into my classroom and flashed an OK sign to me. Well, send an SMS and you got a visual reply from the recipient instead. Cute...

I packed my bag and looked at the clock hanging on top of the blackboard to gain some composure of what's to come during the meet with the President of the Sports Committee. I came out from class and was soon joined by Akira with the paperback novel clutched to her chest in one hand.

Is this a sign of body language that she doesn't want to be holding hands right now? I guess it is since we were still in the school compound.

We walked to the ground floor and reached the General Office. Even if the President of the Sports Committee was a student but her prestige stood out just like a teaching staff and has her own space in the School's General Office to conduct her business there.

It was still early after school so we waited in the lounge area and sat on one of the red cushioned long benches while waiting for the President of the Sports Committee. A few moments later, Ayumi walked in and both Akira and I stood up and bowed slightly towards her.

”You seemed to be early. Give me 15 minutes while I gather all the necessary documents and information for you to digest. Also, there is an academic sponsorship as well for you to read in case you could make good use of both at the same time. I just need you to be present so your female companion may wait for you here while we finish up the business inside.”

With an air of confidence exuded from her commanding posture, she turned and entered her designated office and closed the wooden door. So Akira and I sat down back on the long bench and she took her paperback novel on her lap and turned to her bookmarked page.

She had read almost halfway through the paperback nov and she spoke softly to me, narrating some of the parts of the plot that she was unsure of. I listened to her for the next 15 minutes and I told her to wait for me as I would be having a discussion with the President of the Sports Committee.

I rapped at the door and waited for a few seconds before I entered upon hearing the approval to enter. The President of the Sports Committee was sitting behind a large mahogany desk and a lot of frames adorned her surroundings and mainly are from the earlier and rare 'Sports Illustrated' cover magazines.

There was a small memorabilia showcase just adjacent to her table that held many autographed baseball bat, an autographed soccer ball from Pele, some baseball cards as well as some medals of silver and gold achievements.

A wall mounted fan behind her was oscillating and it helps to circulate the already air-conditioned room. Leaning across her table was a bamboo-type kendo stick, presumably to ward off perverts from taking advantage in any situation.

Prior to my attendance with her, 3 sets of papers were set in the table facing the interviewee and were weighted with a stone paperweight to prevent them from flying astray due to the oscillating wall fan.

”Please take a seat and make yourself comfortable. There are three sets of conditions laid before you and I want you to read through all of them and try to comprehend before asking any questions pertaining to the academic sponsorship, sports sponsorship as well as a contract.”

Ayumi pointed out the 3 sets of documents as she explained to me. I took the first set of a single piece of contract on the leftmost and read that it was kind of remuneration if we emerge as champions for tomorrow's match at Inazawa Futsal Stadium against the defending champion Aichi Commercial School.

The remunerations states as the following:

1. Goals against ¥5,000. Each for players

2. Individual Goalscorers ¥8,000 per goal

2. No Goals conceded ¥5,000

3. CHAMPIONSHIP ¥25,000

Each of the remuneration for the individual as well as the team was early stated in the contract. As a captain of the Futsal team, I had no objections as I signed the acknowledgement for it. It was a very good deal.