The more she thought about it, the more Nadeshiko was determined to discover the face of her newfound adversary. And as it so happened, fate was about to oblige.
She was just past the edge of the field when she spotted a girl talking with "Labouche"-sensei, the cooking instructor for Yoko Academy. The woman's real name was Kuchikawa, but she'd earned the nickname from her students on the day they learned that she'd not only studied abroad in Paris but had perfected a version of the famous labouchere sauce created by Chef Labouchere in the famous New Orleans restaurant, Copeland's. (At least, that was what she'd told the students...) Although Labouche-sensei tended to act rather high and mighty, she had a soft spot for her most talented pupils, and Nadeshiko was proud to number among those. Nothing brought her more joy than bringing a rare smile to the teacher's face.
Seeing Labouche-sensei smiling that way at this new girl made Nadeshiko's eyes pop out of her skull.
"Damn wench!" she snapped, leaping onto the shoulders of a hapless male student and squirming up him in order to get a better look. (At her meager, dainty height of 4'11", Nadeshiko was used to having to climb things in order to get a proper vantage point.) Ignoring the boy's blushing and flailing, she shaded her eyes with one hand and stared at Kurusugawa- and she was
certain this must be she- until she could almost imagine that her gaze was boring holes into the other girl's back.
But that
interloper was getting away!
With a soft gasp, Nadeshiko dismounted her makeshift standing post in one fluid motion. Her skirt and pigtails fluttered as her feet touched down, and her large eyes lifted demurely to his.
"I'm so sorry!" she told him, her cheeks staining a faint pink. "There was a bug in your hair, and I didn't want it to get squished if he surprised you! He's all free now."
"...Don't worry about it," the boy answered, rubbing the back of his neck and shuffling his feet.
"Be careful! Next time we meet, I don't want to have to rescue anyone else." Smiling, she bowed and turned on her heel to pursue Kurusugawa once more.
Her prey led her back towards the practicing sports crowd.
That little cow! Flirting with all the boys too! She better stay away from Kuromori-senpai or I'll break her ugly nose! Nadeshiko's teeth gritted, she stomped toward the group of boys who were gathered around a pitcher of lemonade.
Of course, by the time she got there...
"Ah! Tatsuo-kun!" Nadeshiko smiiiiiled, sidling up to the boy who was well known at Yoko for being openly
you-know-what. He'd also happened to go to the same junior high as she had, so it wasn't strange for her to call him by his given name. "You're so thoughtful, bringing that lemonade for everyone. Let me help you make it next time, alright?"