บท 264: Pain!
(Words: 2468)
As the evening approached, within the baseball coach's office, a distinct voice, both cold and slightly sweet, mixed with the cool air from the air conditioner, reached the ears of Tougou, who was seated in his office chair.
"Coach, this is my resignation from the club. Please approve it."
With those words, a white resignation form was placed on the desk in front of him.
Taking a deep breath to suppress his surprise and anger, Tougou shifted his gaze from the resignation form to the girl standing in the middle of the room.
It was during the break in the baseball team's practice.
The girl was, of course, wearing the light blue shirt symbolizing the baseball team manager's role, paired with white trousers.
Though she was young, her figure was already well- over developed.
With the right guidance, she could undoubtedly become an excellent toy in bed.
That had been his plan all along.
But now, this potential plaything was trying to slip out of his grasp, and there was no way Tougou would allow that.
His eyes, stern and imposing, bore down on the girl as his gruff voice, laced with a warning, filled the room, "Nanao, do you understand the situation? The match is coming up soon. If you quit now, the team members will be very disappointed. Think it over again."
With that, he slightly pushed the resignation form back toward her.
However, Nanao Akane had already expected he wouldn't let her go so easily.
So, she pulled out the club application form that Sasaki had given her that morning from her pocket.
"I'm really sorry, Coach.
My grades have dropped significantly recently, and both my teachers and parents have advised me to focus on improving them first."
"I know quitting now will affect my teammates, so I've made sure to find someone to replace me."
With that said, she stepped forward and placed the application form beside her resignation form, then stepped back to her original position, and continued:
"Please, Coach, approve it."
"..."
Tougou's hands instinctively clenched into fists as he fixed his fierce gaze on the bowed head of Nanao Akane.
The predatory look in his eyes flared for just a moment before he quickly masked it.
Though anger and frustration simmered inside him, the gorilla didn't let them cloud his judgment.
The training field was just outside, and he was sitting a good three meters away from Nanao.
Displaying his anger now would do him no favors.
What he needed to focus on was how to get this bitch under his control.
As for keeping her in the club... he suspected that wasn't going to be possible anymore.
He couldn't believe he had misjudged her so badly.
When he first met Nanao, he pegged her as a devoted and sincere person, someone he could manipulate using her attachment to Katase.
But now, it was clear that she was just as fickle as any other girl, nothing more than a fickle thing.
She actually checked into a hotel with another boy even though she had an appointment with Katase, and now she wanted to quit the baseball club and get rid of Katase... what a disappointment.
Even as he internally berated Nanao, Tougou had no intention of letting her go so easily.
Even if she had proven to be a shameless slut, he wasn't going to let his efforts go to waste.
If she was the kind of slut who could sleep with someone so easily with a little bit of sweet talk, then he would treat her like the slut she was and make her pay for the trouble she'd caused him.
Staring at the resignation form on his desk, Tougou's mind began to formulate a plan.
Taking both the resignation and the replacement application in hand, he pretended to consider them seriously before addressing Nanao,
"Since you're so determined, I won't stop you. But after spending so much time with the team, don't you think it's a bit inappropriate to leave without a proper farewell?"
Hearing his words, her eyes narrowed slightly as she recalled what Sasaki had mentioned earlier about possibly throwing her a farewell party.
However, feeling a bit unsure, Nanao raised her head and asked,
"Coach, are you suggesting...?"
"Parting on good terms, of course. The team can pitch in and throw you a farewell party."
....
The scenario she most dreaded was now becoming reality, and the girl's expression stiffened slightly,
"With the upcoming match, it might not be a good idea to hold such an event. It could be a distraction.
We could wait until after the tournament to have the farewell party."
...
However, Tougou held the upper hand in this situation, and his tone left no room for negotiation,
"A farewell party isn't something you can just make up later.
It's settled.
I'll find a place on Sunday, and we'll hold your farewell party then."
"Coach, that's really not necessary..."
Even though Sasaki had suggested a way to handle Tougou's proposal, ensuring that her departure from the baseball club wouldn't affect her relationship with Katase, the thought of attending a farewell party with Tougou present made the girl deeply uneasy.
..
However, despite her attempts to refuse, Tougou cut her off harshly,
"Don't you care about your teammates at all, Nanao?
Do you really want to leave without a proper send-off, or are you hoping they'll try to convince you to stay?"
"..."
With no way to argue, Akane Nanao fell silent for a moment before agreeing reluctantly.
"I will attend."
"Good. I'll announce it to the team after practice."
"Understood, Coach."
After leaving the office, Nanao Akane quickly ran to the nearest restroom and locked herself in a stall, hurriedly typing out a message to Sasaki.
Buzz buzz—
....
..
In the restroom of the library in Building 1, Sasaki had just walked in when he felt his phone vibrating in his pocket.
Earlier in the day, during the morning break, he had given Nanao the application form and made a deal with her.
She was supposed to submit her resignation and the new application to Tougou during the first break of the club practice, then inform Sasaki of the outcome afterward.
Knowing that this message would be coming, Sasaki had excused himself to the restroom at the end of his tutoring session.
Locking the restroom door behind him, he took out his phone from his pocket.
[The worst case happened—Tougou is planning a farewell party for me.] 16:25
Since it was just as he had anticipated, Sasaki's face showed no signs of surprise.
His fingers moved swiftly as he replied to her message.
[That's not great. I didn't expect him to move this quickly, a bit of an oversight on my part.] 16:25 [Read]
Although the situation wasn't exactly what they had initially expected, it was Tougou's decision, and there was no point in blaming Sasaki, so,the girl didn't dwell on it either.
What was important now was ensuring her safety at the farewell party.
In response to her concerns, Sasaki provided clear instructions.
[I'll go with you to the party.
During the event, send me a single character every two to three minutes.
If you don't send anything for more than four minutes, I'll come in and get you.] 16:26 [Read]
[But keep in mind, this might cause Katase to misunderstand things further, so you need to protect yourself as well.
Don't assume you're completely safe just because I'm outside.] 16:26 [Read]
[Remember, drink as little as possible and eat even less.
If you can't avoid it, just make a minimal effort.
If they start teasing you, ask them some embarrassing questions in return...] 16:28 [Read]
[…] 16:29 [Read]
Giving her all the necessary instructions, Sasaki did everything he could to ensure her well-being.
This meticulous care was important, as every little bit of goodwill mattered for how she would feel about him after he eventually made his move.
So, Sasaki didn't mind taking the time to guide her.
Once he had finished advising her, he put away his phone and returned to the library, where the tutoring session was taking place.
His relationship with Yukiha was that of a couple who hadn't yet verbally confessed their feelings to each other.
His relationship with Chifuyu had reached the brink of becoming romantic.
Given these dynamics, the two girls wouldn't have left during Sasaki's brief trip to the restroom, even though they weren't particularly familiar with each other.
Moreover, Chifuyu still had some questions about the tutoring that she wanted to ask Serizawa, which made her unusually proactive in starting a conversation.
This change in her behavior showed how, after becoming friends with Otome and Rinka, she had indeed become more confident and outgoing compared to before.
So, when Sasaki returned, the sight that greeted him was of Chifuyu and Yukiha leaning close together, whispering to each other.
The warm, golden sunlight streamed in through the windows, casting a gentle orange hue over the scene.
The sunlight reflected off the practice workbooks on the desk, softly illuminating the girls' delicate, snow-like faces.
The scene was serene and harmonious.
That was Sasaki's first thought.
But as his gaze drifted downward, noticing how the girls' identical white blouses stretched taut over their soft, full chests, pressing together in an unintentionally suggestive way, the picturesque scene in his mind shattered into pieces, overwhelmed by a surge of desire.
In those fragmented thoughts, he imagined the two girls like a layered sandwich, stacked together like a burger, or lying side by side like little piglets eating their meal, or even playing a game of Jenga with their bodies…
It was getting a bit too much to handle...
Taking a deep breath, Sasaki quickly suppressed his rising desires before he embarrassed himself.
He hadn't even exhaled fully when he heard the girls calling out to him.
"Sasaki-kun."
"Sasaki-kun."
Refocusing on the girls' cute faces, Sasaki noticed that they had returned to their proper, upright postures,
And couldn't help but sigh internally.
'The road ahead is long…'
As he approached them, Sasaki began organizing the books on the desk,
"Thank you both for helping me with tutoring today. Do you have some time afterward? I'd like to treat you to some desserts."
"Fuyu... Sasaki-kun, don't you have work after this?"
Knowing his usual schedule, Serizawa Yukiha was surprised by his sudden invitation.
"I'm actually heading to the hospital for a follow-up appointment today, so I took the day off from work."
Both girls were aware of why Sasaki had been absent previously.
So, hearing that he was going to the hospital for a check-up, they wouldn't dream of delaying him.
"You should go then. We can have dessert another time."
Unlike Chifuyu, who was still hesitant due to their relationship not quite reaching a certain level, Serizawa Yukiha, who already considered herself his girlfriend, uncharacteristically urged him on, gently pushing him toward the door.
"Hurry up, hurry up~"
"Don't delay something like that."
"Actually, it's okay if I go a bit later…"
However, the girl continued to gently nudge Sasaki out the door, her usual gentle and tender expression replaced with one of firm insistence,
"No, it's not okay. You need to go now!"
Standing in the hallway, Sasaki, slinging his bag over his shoulder, looked at the determined look in her eyes, and reluctantly waved to the two girls,
"Alright then, I'll treat you both to dessert another time."
"I'll be off now."
"See you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow."
As they parted ways, Chifuyu, who had been silently pondering something during the tutoring session, glanced up at Serizawa Yukiha beside her.
After hesitating for a moment, she looked toward Sasaki, who was about to disappear down the hallway, and spoke finally.
"Um, Serizawa-san, I have something to take care of, so I'll be leaving first…"
"See you tomorrow, Tsukimi-san."
"Y-Yes, see you tomorrow."
After waving goodbye to Yukiha, Chifuyu hurried out into the hallway.
Catching sight of Sasaki, who hadn't gone far, she quickly caught up with him.
"Fuyumi~"
Her voice was soft and small as she called out, and she walked obediently by his side.
Sasaki wasn't surprised that she had caught up with him.
He also had a good idea of what she wanted to ask, so he casually asked with a smile,
"So, how did it feel today, watching us and helping with the tutoring?"
Without a moment's hesitation, Chifuyu expressed her honest thoughts.
"You were very focused, Fuyumi~"
She didn't comment on his intelligence or how well Serizawa had tutored him.
She simply made that one observation.
Because her most direct impression was that Sasaki was indeed very focused and serious.
From what she observed this afternoon, and from the brief time she spent tutoring him, Chifuyu could tell that Fuyumi wasn't the type of student who excelled purely due to innate talent.
Much like Takagi-san, he required multiple explanations to fully grasp even the less difficult problems. However, he remained diligent.
After each explanation, he would share his thought process with the girls, asking for their methods and insights.
With each correction they provided, he would internalize where he went wrong, and over time, his mistakes became fewer and fewer.
In contrast, Takagi-san seemed far less focused, always itching to attend club activities instead of concentrating on his studies.
Sigh~
Chifuyu glanced at Sasaki out of the corner of her eye, a small frown creasing her face as she reflected on this.
Sasaki noticed her expression and smirked slightly before speaking:
"Focused, huh... I have to be. Otome's grades are really good. If I don't put in the effort, I won't be able to attend the same university as her. I still have a long way to go."
"…"
His tone was casual, the words simple, tinged with a light worry.
It was just a normal explanation for why he was so serious.
But to Chifuyu, those words felt like an icy dagger piercing her heart, leaving her breathless with discomfort.
She couldn't bear to compare herself with Otome, afraid that it might stir up emotions she didn't want to feel.
Blinking rapidly, her long, soft lashes fluttered like little fans, batting away the mist threatening to well up in her eyes as her voice trembled ever so slightly.
"Well, Fuyumi, just keep working hard. There's still time, after all~"
Sasaki sighed faintly—barely noticeable, but enough for stupid Chifuyu to catch it.
Before he smiled and nodded,
"Yeah… there's still time. I'll work hard to get into the same university as Otome!"
"…"
The powerful and resolute voice was like a sledgehammer, hitting Tsukimi Chifuyu's heart hard, causing her to subconsciously press her hand against her plump chest, where her heart throbbed painfully beneath her shirt.
It hurts!
It hurts so much!
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