Capítulo 51: Ch 51. Teaching Stick, Tennis and Camera
"..." Yukinoshita hesitated for a moment before nodding lightly.
With her lack of physical stamina and Hoshimi's barely passable tennis skills, winning the mixed doubles tennis championship was going to be a tall order...
"Hoshimi-kun, I'll leave Yukinon to you! Good luck! Make sure you win the championship! Yukinon has a very strong competitive spirit!" The energetic Yuigahama turned to Hoshimi, cheering him on.
"No problem, Yukinoshita and I are pretty strong." Hoshimi replied with a peculiar look after glancing at Yukinoshita.
"Good luck! We'll leave you two to it then!"
"Hikki, let's go!"
With a smile, Yuigahama left with Hikigaya without any further delay.
Watching the two disappear around the corner, Yukinoshita couldn't shake the feeling that something was off...
She crossed her arms and rested her chin on one hand, lost in thought.
"What are you thinking about? Aren't you supposed to 'teach' me?"
Hoshimi, his odd expression now replaced with a cheerful one, walked over to Yukinoshita.
"..." Yukinoshita glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, still feeling a sense of dissonance.
Her brow furrowed as she pondered, growing more and more irritated.
Moments later, she kicked Hoshimi's leg and said coldly, "Let's go to the tennis court."
Forget it. She didn't want to think about it anymore. As long as Yuigahama was fine, her top priority was still to get back at Hoshimi.
She needed to blow off some steam at the tennis court. Today, she had specially prepared a teaching stick. She'd take her revenge with a few lashes first.
...
Meanwhile, pushing their bikes, Hikigaya and Yuigahama walked in silence along the street.
"Hikki, have Hoshimi-kun and Yukinon made up?"
Waiting at a red light, Yuigahama finally broke the silence between them.
"..." Hikigaya remained silent.
After a long pause, and with the green light signaling them to go, he mumbled indistinctly, "I don't know."
He really didn't know. Maybe things weren't as Yuigahama thought; perhaps there was more to it.
But without understanding the hidden details, he couldn't give a definite answer.
"Really? You don't know either, Hikki? I thought you knew everything..." Yuigahama stepped onto the crosswalk.
Hikigaya pushed his bike and followed, retorting, "The one who knows everything isn't me; it's Yukinoshita. I don't know much at all."
"Hehe~ You're right. Yukinoshita is really amazing, knowing everything. She's like an encyclopedia," Yuigahama praised with a laugh.
But the encyclopedia that knew everything also kept everything to herself...
"..." Hikigaya stayed silent, not responding.
Yuigahama didn't speak again either, her thoughts drifting away.
Once more, silence fell between them.
After some time, Yuigahama stopped, smiling as she stood at the roadside.
"I'm home now, Hikki. See you."
"Yeah, see you."
With a clear mind, Hikigaya watched her leave before continuing on alone, pushing his bike.
Reaching an uphill road, he paused, gazing at the bustling city.
Yukinoshita Yukino's youth had finally taken on a different hue. The 'Snow Woman' trapped in the Service Club had been led out of her isolation.
But when the 'Snow Woman' left her self-imposed island, what would happen to Yuigahama, who had willingly entered it?
Would Yuigahama's youth lose a color? He didn't know.
He only knew that with the Service Club activities suspended, he could enjoy a period of peace and quiet.
And when the club resumed, he might have to adjust to its changed dynamics.
With one last look at the bustling city, Hikigaya continued up the hill.
This uphill road... it's really tiring...
...
At the Sobu High tennis court.
"Thwack--- Thwack---"
"Thwack---"
The sound of the ball hitting the racket was crisp.
At the moment, Hoshimi was practicing with the wall, honing his forehand and backhand strokes while also reinforcing the tennis footwork Yukinoshita had just taught him.
"Thwack--"
The next moment, Hoshimi's cross-step was a beat too slow, and the ball brushed past him.
"Smack--"
Yukinoshita, who had been waiting, stepped forward quickly and lashed Hoshimi's butt with the teaching stick.
"Ah~~" The pain made Hoshimi gasp, and he turned to silently stare at Yukinoshita.
"What are you looking at? Keep practicing," Yukinoshita, now in her tennis outfit, said with a sadistic smile.
"Hoshimi, I think I should remind you that hitting too hard isn't good," Hoshimi, eyes narrowed and smiling, gave a sinister warning.
"Hmph~" Yukinoshita scoffed, striking Hoshimi's leg with the stick again. "A strict teacher produces outstanding students. Without a little force, how will you remember your mistakes?"
"And another thing..." Yukinoshita crossed her arms and slightly tilted her chin up, exuding arrogance. "If your skills don't improve, how can you team up with me? Since we signed up, I don't want to return empty-handed."
"..." Hoshimi narrowed his eyes, staring at Yukinoshita.
Yuigahama wasn't wrong; Yukinoshita did have a strong competitive spirit.
Yukinoshita genuinely wanted to train him harshly and take him along to achieve a good result in the mixed doubles.
"Why are you still looking at me? Go practice." Yukinoshita raised her stick again but then decided to kick Hoshimi's leg instead.
"Alright." Hoshimi smiled, picked up his racket, and continued practicing.
Watching his back, Yukinoshita felt no fear.
She knew Hoshimi would undoubtedly seek revenge a hundredfold in the dream world tonight, but so what? Would she give up her revenge because of that?
No! She had to intensify her efforts!
There was no way out through retreat!
If Hoshimi dared to do it, she had to be ready to do it even more!
Hoshimi's revenge might be intense, but it was just a dream. Even if it hurt, it would subside after a while upon waking.
But reality was different. One was one, two was two, with no discounts whatsoever.
So, no matter how you looked at it, she was coming out ahead!
"Thwack---"
Hoshimi missed the ball again, and Yukinoshita stepped forward, lashing him once more with the stick.
"Smack--"
The crisp sound filled Yukinoshita with such joy that it nearly overflowed from her eyes.
This is exhilarating!
The pleasure of revenge never gets old!
"..." Taking another hit, Hoshimi picked up the ball and pondered his mistake.
There was a problem with his footwork; it could still be improved.
The force of his shot was a bit too much, and the hitting area was off, causing the ball to rebound far off course.
After correcting himself, Hoshimi continued practicing earnestly.
The pain from the teaching stick? He could endure it. He just needed to keep practicing and learning. Once he could start rallying with Yukinoshita, the real game would begin.
"Thwack--"
"Thwack--"
With each crisp hit, the sweating Hoshimi's face was filled with an exceptionally rare look of seriousness.
Standing to the side, Yukinoshita watched the now-focused Hoshimi with an indifferent expression.
So, it hurt enough to make him serious? Was he planning to regain the upper hand in their future practice matches?
But a mere beginner wanting to score against her was too conceited.
If Hoshimi had significantly better stamina than her, he might have a chance once she was exhausted.
But alas, Hoshimi's stamina was also lacking, leaving no chance at all!
"Stamina..." Yukinoshita muttered.
Speaking of which, with both of them lacking stamina, achieving a good result would be challenging...
It seemed there would be no room for complacency in the coming days. She needed to improve her stamina as much as possible.
Once her stamina improved, even if they couldn't win the championship, securing a good ranking should still be feasible.
"Thwack---"
Hoshimi missed again, and Yukinoshita walked over, striking the contemplative Hoshimi with the stick.
From a distance, Iroha Isshiki, holding a borrowed camera, watched the scene in silence. She took a few steps back and then left without looking back.
I'm sorry, Iwanaga-san. There are no photos, and I don't want a treat either.
If I get any closer, I'm afraid Yukinoshita-senpai will use that stick on me too.
Scary~ Too scary~ To be this harsh with her boyfriend, does Yukinoshita-senpai have some special interest?
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