Chapter 282: This Humble One Lacks Talent, Forgive the Intrusion
"What?"
To Hayama Hayato, Miura Yumiko's words sounded like riddles wrapped in a fog.
"You'll understand in a moment."
Seeing that Hayama still didn't grasp the meaning behind her words, Miura Yumiko took a tennis stance, warily guarding against the duo across the court—Hikigaya Hachiman and Yukinoshita Yukino.
Although she already knew that she and Hayama were doomed to lose this match, her integrity as a tennis enthusiast compelled her to finish this final game with absolute seriousness!
"Are you well-acquainted with her?"
While Hayama and Miura were talking, on the other side of the court, Hikigaya Hachiman and Yukinoshita Yukino were also conversing in hushed tones.
Yukinoshita Yukino had noticed it.
From the moment she entered the court, Miura Yumiko had been deliberately avoiding Hikigaya Hachiman. This reaction was completely different from her usual display of disgust toward him, which made Yukino realize immediately that there was something fishy going on between the two.
"That's not the case at all..."
Cold sweat broke out unconsciously on his forehead. While Hikigaya Hachiman mentally complained that Miura Yumiko's reaction was far too obvious, he replied to Yukino's question in a steady tone.
"Really?"
Looking at the beads of sweat on Hachiman's forehead, Yukinoshita Yukino covered her mouth and let out a light chuckle.
"Fine, I did happen to run into her once outside of school before..."
Yukinoshita's mischievous smile made Hachiman's skin crawl. Forced by a vague sense of crisis, he reluctantly disclosed a few details.
"Was it like the situation I was in that day?"
Yukino, of course, wouldn't believe that Hachiman's "run-in" with Miura was as simple as passing each other on the street. Judging by Miura's guilty attitude toward Hachiman, it was obvious that he had done her a favor.
And for something to change Miura's attitude from hatred to what it was now... there was likely only one kind of scenario.
"The hero saving the beauty, then."
Recalling the scene where Hachiman had rescued her, Yukinoshita Yukino's cheeks turned a soft pink.
But then, the thought that Miura Yumiko might have shared a similar experience made Yukino feel suddenly unhappy. Naturally, Hachiman, standing right beside her, became the best target for venting her dissatisfaction.
"What kind of hero am I..."
Detecting the hidden dissatisfaction—and was that jealousy?—in Yukino's tone, Hachiman gave a bitter laugh and shook his head.
"Well, let's forget what happened before. After all, it's not like you could just stand by and watch her be in danger..."
Although she didn't particularly like Miura Yumiko's way of speaking or her behavior, Yukinoshita Yukino wouldn't have wanted Hachiman to ignore someone in trouble. Having understood the entanglement between Miura and Hachiman, Yukino shifted her focus back to the match.
The instigator, Tobe Kakeru, had already received his due punishment; next was simply winning this tennis match...
"Is your body okay?"
Standing beside Yukino and hearing the sound of her heavy breathing, Hachiman sensed something was wrong. It was too hurried!
Even though Yukinoshita Yukino was trying her best to keep a straight face and act as if nothing were wrong, it looked like her stamina was reaching its limit.
"I'm fine, let the match continue."
Yukino, who knew her own condition best, gave a firm nod and prepared to serve the ball.
"You don't look 'fine' at all. Referee, I request a substitution!"
The last sentence was shouted by Hachiman toward Yuigahama Yui.
"Eh, what's wrong?"
Yuigahama Yui, who was about to restart the match, trotted over with a confused expression when she heard Hachiman's request for a time-out.
"Her stamina has reached its limit; she can't keep playing."
"Eh, Yukinon, are you okay?"
Hearing Hachiman's words, Yuigahama hurriedly moved to Yukino's side to support her.
"I'm fine, I just need a little rest..."
The fact she had tried so hard to hide was exposed by Hachiman just like that. After giving Hachiman a helpless look, Yukinoshita Yukino showed a trace of fatigue on her face and shook her head at Yuigahama.
"Hey, what are you guys doing?"
Ooka, who was already quite dissatisfied because his companion had been turned into a "pig's head," started shouting loudly when he saw Yukino and the others pause the match again.
"Don't speak like that, Ooka."
Hayama Hayato, who understood exactly what was happening, immediately stopped Ooka's shouting. He then walked to the net and asked Yukino, who was standing in the center, with concern:
"Yukinoshita, are you alright?"
"I'm fine."
Even though her condition was currently very poor, Yukino did not forget to toss back an icy response to Hayama.
"Then is the match going to continue?"
Confirming that Yukino's body hadn't suffered any serious issues from the intense exercise, Hayama turned to Hachiman and returned his previous words verbatim.
"Of course..."
A strong sense of déjà vu washed over Hachiman.
"If Yukinon is stepping down, then let me be the sub!"
Seeing that Hachiman's side was short a person because Yukino was going off to rest, Yuigahama Yui became eager to try. For her, winning the match wasn't important; what mattered was the chance to play tennis with Hachiman...
"Have you forgotten that you are the referee?"
Hachiman, who had already decided to win this match, didn't actually care who his doubles partner was. However, there is a big difference between not caring and having a teammate who is a total "dead weight."
Without any room for mercy, Hachiman politely declined Yuigahama's proposal.
"Then we can only let Saika do it."
There were only four people on Hachiman's side. With Yukino out and Yuigahama rejected, only Totsuka Saika remained.
"Um, then, please excuse my intrusion..."
Totsuka Saika, who had been standing quietly to the side, hadn't expected that he would end up teaming with Hachiman. Seeing the eyes of the three Service Club members fall upon him, Totsuka Saika moved to Hachiman's side with a bashful expression and spoke softly.
"It's just playing tennis, what is that expression on your face for?"
Looking at Totsuka Saika's shy and delicate countenance, ten thousand alpacas stampeded through Hachiman's heart.
"Well then, please stand in the front; I'll handle the serve..."
Taking the tennis ball from Yukino, Hachiman walked toward the back of the court.
"Win."
As he passed by Yukino, she suddenly whispered those words.
In response, Hachiman simply gave a light smile.
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