Chapter 84: The Second Tennis War (6)
High school life was just like this. For some inexplicable reason, something inexplicable would happen, and it would lead to an inexplicable result.
So, without the slightest surprise, Luke lowered his head and continued watching the ants move house.
In his ears, he could still hear Miura and Yukinoshita's verbal clash growing farther away. Unfortunately, when facing the ice-cold Yukinoshita, Miura was still slightly outmatched, and her voice gradually became choked and trembling.
Hopefully, Yukinoshita would not make her cry.
Speaking of which, the punishment those two chose for the match was way too merciful.
If it were him, hmm…
Miura would change into a teacher outfit and wear glasses. As for Yukinoshita… a cat-ear maid outfit would do.
"Your orange juice!"
"I—!"
Yuigahama pressed the ice-cold orange juice against the cheek of the person lost in fantasy, startling him even though his face had stayed calm.
Luke looked at Yuigahama, who had suddenly spawned beside him, and speechlessly accepted the drink.
"When did you show up? You're even quieter than a ghost."
"I've been back for ages…"
Yuigahama looked at him in defeat, holding a convenience-store bag in her hand.
"You were the one crouching there thinking about something bad, so you didn't notice me, right?!"
Crack!
Luke immediately turned his head away.
Why did this girl suddenly become so sharp? She had actually found him out.
Looking at the normie group, who each had a drink in hand, he lightly pulled open the tab of the orange juice.
With a pfft, the shaken orange juice sprayed out and splashed onto the ground.
Some ants were attracted by the sweet juice, and one by one, the surrounding ants came over to investigate.
The other ants carrying eggs, larvae, and food did not stop. They continued moving house according to the guidance of pheromones.
"Sai-chan, this is for you. Lo… Hikigaya, this one's yours."
Yuigahama did not forget Totsuka and Hikigaya. She had bought drinks for everyone.
"Oh, thanks."
While refusing the coins Totsuka and Hikigaya offered her, Yuigahama looked around and asked, "Where are Yukinon and Yumiko?"
She looked at the two remaining juices in the convenience-store bag and realized Yukinoshita and Miura were missing from the crowd.
"They went to borrow tennis uniforms and prepare for the match."
Luke explained.
"Hm?"
Yuigahama looked confused.
Before she could think too much about it, Miura Yumiko and Yukinoshita Yukino had already changed into tennis outfits.
Yukinoshita wore a pink tennis tank top with a matching short skirt. The white skirt was paired with safety shorts and black thigh-high socks, and even her slender frame had a clean, graceful beauty.
Miura Yumiko wore the same style in a layered blue tank top, paired with a matching tennis skirt. As the hems swayed lightly with their movements, their athletic silhouettes looked sharp and energetic.
For one brief moment, he actually felt this trip had been worth it.
Only, based on their attributes, hadn't those blue and pink outfits been swapped?
Yukinoshita's cool, icy personality should have suited blue better…
He thought that in his heart.
"Yukinon…"
Yuigahama held the cold drinks and wanted to hand them to Yukinoshita and Yumiko, but the step she took froze in place.
Because she saw Yukinoshita walking onto the court with an ashen expression, while Miura stood tall and proud on the other side, her chest lifted and her head held high in triumph.
Yuigahama held the drinks she had prepared for them, looked at Yukinoshita's awful expression, and timidly did not dare move forward.
"U-uh? What happened to Yukinon?"
She asked Luke.
"I'm not sure either…"
He frowned slightly and thought about it.
At first, during their verbal exchange, Miura had still been jumping in frustration because of Yukinoshita's words. Yet after changing clothes, she had turned into a victorious queen, returning in smug triumph.
No matter how he thought about it, Miura could not possibly win against Yukinoshita in a war of words.
Then, aside from that, the only thing that could make Yukinoshita act like this had to be some clearly existing material reason.
"Maybe Miura teased her about their figures."
He guessed the reason, but it felt very possible.
He figured that while changing clothes, Miura had probably decided to win a round by flaunting her own more curvaceous figure.
Yukinoshita would then verbally counter with something like, "Whether people succeed or not is not determined by external traits," while secretly caring about it a lot.
"H-how is that possible?"
Yuigahama looked completely unable to believe it.
"Don't just imagine weird things!"
Luke continued drinking his juice and neither agreed nor denied it.
"Forget that."
He stood up and looked toward the court.
Once all the players had arrived, the match finally entered the real competition stage.
Because Hayama Hayato, a school celebrity, had arrived earlier, quite a few spectators had gathered around the surrounding courts. There were both boys and girls, though girls were the majority.
"W-who do you think is stronger?"
Totsuka Saika held his drink with both hands and stared fixedly at the tennis court.
"Who knows?"
Luke said casually.
"Alright, now let us return the camera to the scene of the match!"
A sudden booming voice rang out.
"Hm?"
Luke looked in confusion at the student speaking through a megaphone.
"Ah, they're from the broadcasting club."
Yuigahama said in surprise.
"No, wait…"
The broadcasting club member continued:
"Wherever there's a match!"
"Wherever there's excitement!"
"That's where we are!"
"Are they Captain Dragonfly or something?"
Luke turned his head speechlessly and looked at Yuigahama, who seemed just as troubled.
"Ahaha… I'm not very familiar with them either."
Yuigahama scratched at her dango hair in distress.
"Who do you think I should cheer for?"
So that was what you were troubled about…
If he were on the court, he would absolutely use Rocket Racket on those broadcasting club guys.
Absolutely!
On the court, Miura ignored the noisy broadcast and kept tossing the ball to the ground, catching it again and again.
Yukinoshita ignored it as well, only watching Miura's movements with her eyes.
Miura opened her mouth into a beastly smile completely different from Yukinoshita's, full of aggression.
"Yukinoshita-san, I'm really good at tennis, you know."
Yukinoshita still said nothing, watching Miura's smiling face.
"If I end up hurting you, I'll apologize in advance."
Miura continued with a terrifying declaration.
With a whoosh, the tennis ball cut through the air and swept toward Yukinoshita.
The broadcasting club member immediately spoke, his speed extremely fast.
"Alright, the match has begun! The first to attack is the long-curled-haired Miura-san!"
"She used a fast serve! The angle is to the left! What a tricky position!"
"Can Yukinoshita-san reach it?"
The tennis ball attacked Yukinoshita's left side. With Miura's technique, this shot nearly pressed against the edge of the court.
For someone whose dominant hand was the right, it was truly far enough to escape the racket's reach.
"You're underestimating me too much!"
Yukinoshita remained calm. Her left foot stepped forward as her axis, and with a waltz-like turn, she struck backhanded with her right hand.
…
(Don't forget to vote and leave a comment below! The more you vote, the more chapters I upload weekly.)
...
Read more chapters in advance:
patréon.com/U22
(Note: Replace "é" with "e" on your web browser.)