"Riku!"
"To the left."
*Swish*
A set from Yuki—
Izumi, with a high jump, timed his swing perfectly, delivering a powerful spike that slammed into the opponent's court.
"You did great," Riku praised.
"Thanks," Izumi replied with a satisfied smile.
Riku couldn't help but inquire, "Your jump has also gotten better? What did you do?"
Izumi shared his secret, "It did, that's a relief.Just did some changes in my jumping exercises...."
Yuki interrupted Izumi saying, "Oi, Riku, don't forget about his speed."
"Yeah, man, what's the deal with that? You managed to jump even before the opponent's blockers reacted," Riku questioned.
Izumi grinned, "The same thing. I changed the exercises a bit, and guess what? It's working."
It was several days later the trip to the zoo— more specifically 3 weeks after their wonderful trip! Curently Izumi found himself back in the volleyball club playing together with his teammates— everyone doing their best to improve themselves.
Izumi had been diligently working on his training after the inspiring visit to the zoo with Rin and her maid. The animal encounters had left a lasting impression on him, particularly the agility and speed of cheetahs and the impressive jumping capabilities of kangaroos.
Incorporating these newfound inspirations into his volleyball training, Izumi made some significant changes. He adjusted his workout routine to focus on agility and jumping, aiming to harness some of the qualities he'd observed in those remarkable animals.
Cheetah-Inspired Training:
- Izumi began incorporating different kind of sprint drills into his training regimen to improve his speed and agility.
- He practiced quick bursts of speed, mimicking the cheetah's lightning-fast sprints.
- He also incorporated lateral movements and sharp turns to enhance his agility on the court.
Kangaroo-Inspired Training:
- To improve his jumping abilities, Izumi added plyometric exercises to his routine.
- He focused on explosive, leg-strengthening workouts, such as box jumps and squat jumps.
- Izumi also worked on his landing techniques to ensure safety and efficiency when he came down from a jump.
These training changes began to yield results. Izumi's movements on the volleyball court became more agile, and he could reach new heights with his jumps. His teammates and coaches were impressed with his rapid improvement and dedication to his training.
As the weeks passed, Izumi could feel the positive impact of his animal-inspired training, and he was excited to see how it would benefit his performance in the upcoming games.
With couple of more matches the training session at the volleyball club come to a close for the day, and the team members were beginning to disperse. Riku, one of Izumi's close friends and a fellow club member, approached him.
"Hey, Miyamura, great work today!" Riku greeted with a grin.
Izumi returned the smile, wiping some sweat from his brow. "Thanks, Riku. You did well too."
Riku's enthusiasm was infectious, and he suggested, "You know, we've got some extra time. How about we stay back for a bit and play some more? It'll be fun!"
Izumi considered the offer but then shook his head. "As much as I'd love to, Riku, I can't today. I've got some other things to take care of."
Riku looked slightly disappointed but understanding. "Alright, man, no problem. Next time then."
Izumi patted his friend on the shoulder. "Definitely. We'll have a good practice session soon. See you later, Riku."
With that, Izumi bid farewell to his teammates for the day and made his way to tackle the other responsibilities that awaited him.
Izumi arrived home after a productive day of training. He stepped through the front door and called out, "I'm home."
From the kitchen or possibly the common room, his mother's warm voice replied, "Welcome back."
Izumi felt a sense of comfort and familiarity as he entered their cozy home. It was moments like these that made the daily routine special, knowing that he had a loving and supportive family waiting for him.
As he began to change out of his outdoor shoes, his mother approached him with curiosity. "How was the training?" she inquired.
Izumi's face lit up with a bright smile as he responded, "Good."
His mother, Iori, wasn't satisfied with that simple answer and pointed out, "Just good? Your expression tells a different story."
Izumi chuckled and shared more about his training, "Well, I've been trying some different exercises to improve my agility and speed, and it's finally starting to show some results."
Iori's eyes sparkled with delight. "Wow, that's amazing news! So, let's double-down the happiness, shall we!"
Izumi raised an eyebrow, slightly puzzled, "What do you mean?"
Iori flashed a playful grin and continued, "How about a date with Toshaka-Chan? Wouldn't that double down your happiness?"
Izumi blushed slightly and protested, "What are you talking about?"
Iori pouted, feigning innocence, "What? My baby doesn't get embarrassed anymore?"
Izumi sighed and rolled his eyes, "Well, you're always teasing me with the same topic. Of course, I would become resistant to it eventually. Leaving that aside, what did you actually talk to Toshaka about?"
Iori leaned in and whispered, "Ara~ it's just Toshaka-Chan called."
Izumi pressed for more information, "What did she say?"
Iori grinned, "She said for you to go to her home so you can work on some part of the project."
Izumi's eyes widened in realization, "So she invited me to her home to work on the project?"
Iori confirmed with a nod, "Yep, that's right. So, you better take a shower. You have to be at her place at 11:30, and it's already 11 AM."
Izumi sighed, "What! Alright, I guess. But I don't know where she lives."
Iori reassured him, "Oh, don't worry about it. She told me her address."
After a quick shower, Izumi returned to the living room, now dressed and ready to head to Toshaka's place. He called out, "I'm leaving, Mom."
Iori appeared from the kitchen and smiled, "Alright, dear. Have a great time working on your project with Toshaka-chan."
Izumi nodded and gave his mother a peck on the cheek, "Thanks, Mom. I'll be back later."
With his backpack in hand, he headed out the front door and began his journey to Toshaka's mansion.
—————
'Her house should be around here'
Izumi made his way through the unfamiliar neighborhood, somewhat unsure if he was heading in the right direction. However, just as he was about to turn around and check the address again, he noticed the imposing gate with "Toshaka Family" written on it. Relieved, he approached the gate but was soon stopped by a security guard.
The guard inquired, "Can I help you, young man? What's your business here?"
Izumi answered truthfully, "I'm here to work on a school project with Toshaka Rin. She invited me."
The guard nodded and stepped aside, using his walkie-talkie to confirm Izumi's arrival. After a few moments, Mey, Toshaka's maid, appeared at the gate, her friendly smile instantly putting Izumi at ease.
"Ah, Miyamura-kun, we meet again" Mey greeted him warmly. "Please follow me. Rin-sama is expecting you."
"Good to see you again Mey-San, please lead the way"
As Izumi entered Toshaka Rin's room, he found himself in an elegantly decorated space. The room had a touch of sophistication and elegance, befitting a mansion of this stature. The walls were adorned with intricate tapestries, and the large windows allowed ample natural light to fill the room.
In one corner, there was a shelf displaying an impressive collection of books, a testament to Rin's intellectual pursuits. However, what caught Izumi's attention were a few small figures of Naruto characters, placed alongside some other anime merchandise. It was a pleasant surprise, and he couldn't help but smile at it
'looks like I managed to recruit a member for the Ninja Army'
The room was spacious and tidy, with a comfortable-looking seating area near the window, and a large wooden desk at one end, where their project work was likely to take place. The whole atmosphere exuded a sense of order and tranquility.
Izumi couldn't help but admire the mix of traditional and modern elements in Rin's room, a reflection of her multifaceted personality. It was a room that felt inviting and welcoming, just like Rin herself.
As Izumi was admiring the beauty of Rin's room the owner of the room Rin, her hair still wet from the shower, stepped out of the bathroom in nothing but a bathrobe, only to find Izumi in her room. The sudden encounter left both of them speechless, and the room felt heavy with awkward tension.
Izumi tried to break the silence, stammering, "I... I didn't expect you to be... um, in a bathrobe."
Rin's cheeks turned a deep shade of crimson, and she clutched her robe tighter. "I didn't expect you to arrive so soon. I'm still getting dressed. Just give me a moment."
Izumi nodded, feeling his own face heat up. He averted his gaze, focusing intently on a random spot on the floor. The seconds felt like hours as they stood there in discomfort.
Rin's heart raced as she retreated to the bathroom after picking some clothes from her wordrobe. As she entered the bathroom and watched her hair in the mirror. Rin couldn't help but feel self-conscious about her hair.
"My hair looks messed up....and Miyamura must have seen it... What must he think of it? Maybe I should wore a towel on my hair"
Inwardly, she scolded herself for worrying about such trivial details, but the awkwardness of the situation had her mind racing.
After what seemed like an eternity, Rin emerged from her bathroom, fully dressed and composed— and more specifically her hair back to her usuall style. She smiled nervously, trying to lighten the atmosphere. "Sorry about that, Izumi. Let's forget this ever happened and get to work, shall we?"
Izumi exhaled a sigh of relief, relieved to move past the awkward moment. "Yeah, let's just focus on the project." The tension slowly dissipated as they shifted their attention to the task at hand.
Upon returning to the room, she secretly glanced at Izumi to gauge his reaction about her hair, but he seemed too engrossed in his thoughts about the project to have noticed her messy hair. Her unease subsided as she realized that perhaps her worries were unfounded. Nonetheless, she made a mental note to always be prepared, even when expecting a guest.
Izumi and Rin were deep into their work and discussion when you they realized that they had documented local birds but were struggling to find information on other local animals. Rin sighed, "It was easy finding information about local birds as they were at the zoo but now we're stuck when it comes to other animals. We need to find a different way to gather data."
They both sat there, deep in thought about how to proceed with their project. But it soon became apparent that they had hit a roadblock.
Rin finally suggested, "Maybe we should take a break from the project for a while. Sometimes stepping away and returning later with fresh minds can help."
Izumi agreed, "You're right. We're kind of stuck at the moment." They decided to give their minds a rest and engage in something different.
Rin then proposed, "How about we watch Naruto together? It's a great way to relax and recharge, and we might find inspiration for our project in it who knows"
Izumi felt a sudden rush of embarrassment as Rin proposed watching Naruto together. He didn't expect her to suggest such a cozy activity. Trying to hide his surprise, he stammered, "Oh, uh, watching Naruto together?"
Rin noticed his reaction and chuckled playfully. "Is that too embarrassing for you, Miyamura-kun?"
Izumi scratched the back of his head, blushing slightly. "Well, it's not that... it's just a bit unexpected."
Rin gave him an encouraging smile. "Come on, it's a great way to relax and unwind. Plus, watching it together will make the show even more fun."
Izumi chuckled, his initial embarrassment fading. "Alright, you've got a point there. Let's make it a fun anime watch through then!"
Settled on the plush sofa in Rin's room, strategically placed to provide an optimal view of the TV, Izumi and Rin prepared for a Naruto marathon. The soft cushions cradled them comfortably as they entered the world of ninja adventures. It was a welcome escape from the complexities of their project, allowing them to unwind and freshen their minds. They were ready to dive into the world of ninjas and tailed beasts, embarking on an journey that promised both excitement and relaxation.
[A/N— Fillere-ish kinda chapter~ next chapter will be them watching Naruto and after that will be exams & then project presentation (I might switch both of these's order) and then time-skip to junior high btw Izumi's older cousin's coming soon]