บท 40: Ch 40. Shizuka Hiratsuka's Melancholy
The class meeting proceeded smoothly, and soon the lists for the boys' and girls' events were finalized.
Hoshimi signed up for the boys' badminton singles and boys' table tennis singles, while Yukinoshita only participated in the girls' tennis singles.
Now, only the mixed-gender or gender-neutral events remained.
"Next, mixed doubles tennis. Any volunteers?" the class rep asked gently.
After a long wait, Yukinoshita raised her left hand with a faint smile, "Let Hoshimi and me participate in the mixed doubles."
"..." Hoshimi's eyelid twitched.
Here it comes again? Yukinoshita had been quiet just now, and he thought she had temporarily given up. He didn't expect she was waiting for him here.
"Yukinoshita-san and Hoshimi-kun..." The class rep looked at Yukinoshita, then at Hoshimi, unsure whether to write their names down.
Everyone knew Hoshimi couldn't play tennis. In this case, having him participate would only make a fool of himself.
But Yukinoshita had voluntarily suggested participating in the mixed doubles. Given their supposed relationship, they must be confident, right?
To be safe, the class rep asked Hoshimi, "Hoshimi-kun, are you okay with this?"
"..." Hoshimi's lips moved slightly, about to say something, but Yukinoshita answered first.
"Hoshimi has no problem. He has high athletic talent. With my coaching, he can go from a beginner to proficient in a week."
Then, Yukinoshita turned her head, smiling sweetly at Hoshimi, "Right, Hoshimi? You won't disappoint me, will you?"
"...Yukino, you're right. I won't disappoint you." Seeing Yukinoshita's dimples, Hoshimi knew he couldn't refuse given his current persona and had to agree to this slightly unreasonable request.
"Don't worry, Hoshimi. I'll guide you well, ensuring your tennis skills improve rapidly." Yukinoshita smiled, but her arched brows showed no warmth, only a chilling coldness.
"I believe in you, Yukino. I'll do my best." Hoshimi, having guessed Yukinoshita's intentions, also smiled.
However, compared to Yukinoshita's immature acting, Hoshimi's smile suited the current situation perfectly—slightly helpless, somewhat indulgent, and a bit worried.
"...Alright, I'll write your names down."
Watching the two, who seemed to be flaunting their relationship, the class rep's smile became stiff.
She picked up the pen and wrote their names on the list with slightly more pressure than usual.
It didn't matter. Class J was bound to come last anyway, so whatever.
If it weren't for Hiratsuka-sensei's requirement that each event must have participants, she wouldn't want to do something so thankless.
"Next, dodgeball..."
The class meeting continued, but for Yukinoshita and Hoshimi, it had ended.
The two exchanged meaningful smiles, both guarding against each other's final moves.
Meanwhile, Hiratsuka Shizuka, who had been observing them, was almost visibly worried.
What to do? The more she looked, the more she felt something was off between them.
Yukinoshita had never smiled so sweetly, even in front of her own sister, but now she was smiling at a boy for so long. This was a big red flag.
Things were getting complicated...
"Okay~ All events are now filled except for soccer."
"Ding-dong~~~"
As the class rep wrote the last participant's name, the bell for the end of the period rang.
"Alright, class dismissed. Class rep, come with me." Hiratsuka Shizuka, her mind full of worries, left the classroom with her hands in her coat pockets, no longer looking so carefree.
Behind her, the class rep followed, carrying the list of participants for the sports festival.
Soon, the class rep followed Hiratsuka into an empty office.
Hiratsuka sat back at her desk, and the class rep stood by quietly.
"Print a copy of the list for me," Hiratsuka said, flipping through the mountain of papers on her desk.
"Yes, Hiratsuka-sensei." The class rep went to the copier in the corner and made a copy of the list.
She returned to Hiratsuka's desk with the copy, "Hiratsuka-sensei, the list."
"Thanks." Hiratsuka took the list and placed it on her desk.
She glanced at the class rep and said calmly, "The midterm exams are a week after the sports festival. Remind the class not to forget."
"Yes, Hiratsuka-sensei, I'll make sure they know." The class rep nodded.
"Good." Hiratsuka responded, then pointed to a stack of notebooks on a chair by the window, "I've finished grading the essays. Please take them back and distribute them."
"Okay." The class rep turned to the window, picked up the stack of notebooks, and prepared to return to the classroom.
After taking a couple of steps, she heard Hiratsuka's voice, still calm, "Class rep, Hoshimi and Yukinoshita are dating, right?"
"..." The class rep paused, then smiled gently and said, "No, they're not."
"Really? You can go now." Hiratsuka didn't press further, waving the class rep off.
"Goodbye, Hiratsuka-sensei." The class rep maintained her gentle smile and slowly left the office.
"Click----"
The office door closed, and Hiratsuka sighed, rubbing her forehead as she walked to the window and lit a cigarette.
"Whoosh~"
She took a deep drag, exhaling a ring of smoke.
Gazing at the hazy white smoke, Hiratsuka started to worry.
Indeed, something was off between Hoshimi and Yukinoshita. Even the class rep was covering for them. Were they really dating?
Thinking about Yukinoshita Yukino dating someone, Hiratsuka felt both relieved and anxious.
Relieved that the stubborn and lonely girl had finally found someone who understood her.
Anxious that Yukinoshita might be deceived, and concerned about their complicated family backgrounds, especially Hoshimi's side.
"Whoosh~"
Hiratsuka exhaled another smoke ring, pondering what to do next.
First, she had to notify Yukinoshita Haruno, Yukino's older sister.
When Yukino started at Sobu High a year ago, Haruno had pestered her to keep her informed about Yukino at school. Annoyed, she had agreed.
Since she agreed, she couldn't back out now. If Haruno found out she was deliberately withholding information, she would be a real pain.
So, notifying Haruno was a must.
But the most crucial and tricky part was whether to notify Hoshimi's guardian.
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