Chapter 48: More Trouble Ahead

So, push-ups: Himekoji Akito did them until his hands went numb. Only then, rubbing his shoulders and groaning “ow ow” as if his whole body was sore, did he stand up.

He rested for a while and looked toward the tennis court.

What he saw was—

Yuigahama, who had at some point given up on “slimming,” was being guided by Yukinoshita Yukino and looked very tired as she carried a heavy bag full of tennis balls.

The girl threw ball after ball lazily from the bag toward Totsuka, who swung his racket hard to hit them back.

“Yuigahama-san, you need to throw the ball more to the left or right, or it won’t help with practice,” Yukinoshita said in a calm voice.

Compared to Yukinoshita’s calm voice, Totsuka, rushing back and forth to save the ball and getting worn out, was breathing hard and fast.

This Yukinoshita was definitely going to train Totsuka to death!

The price to get strong was one hundred percent giving up your life!

She really had a bad personality!

Hey hey hey, where did you pop out from, devil lady instructor? But to be a devil lady instructor, your breasts should be big first, no matter what, right?

Yuigahama kept on with the ball-throwing job, but her moves were not pretty and the balls landed all over the place. To reach such balls, Totsuka ran here and there like crazy, and by about the twentieth ball, maybe he had no strength left, his leg suddenly gave way and he fell down.

“Wow, are you okay, Saika?”

Yuigahama stopped her work right away and ran over with concern.

“It’s fine, let’s keep going,” Totsuka sat on the ground, rubbing his leg and saying so with small closed lips. His big, deer-like eyes showed his gentle, happy-looking smile, all to help his tennis club become strong—Totsuka kept his fighting spirit high.

Yet, after hearing this, Yukinoshita frowned slightly in anger, almost too quietly to notice.

“Do you still want to do more?”

She asked without any expression on her face.

“Yeah… since everyone is here with me, I want to try a bit harder.”

“Then Yuigahama-san, the rest is up to you.”

Yukinoshita suddenly turned her head and, without any explanation, walked straight out of the tennis court, her back soon disappearing from everyone’s view.

“Ho-how was what I said… did I say something that made Yukinoshita mad?”

Seeing this, Totsuka blinked timidly, his face looking very troubled.

“Don’t worry, that guy is always like that. Not calling someone ‘idiot’ or ‘stupid’ might even mean she’s in a good mood.”

Just stepping up, Himekoji quickly comforted Saika by putting down Yukinoshita.

“But she only calls Akito an idiot, right?”

Yuigahama didn’t agree with Himekoji’s words, tilting her head in confusion.

Himekoji Akito could only roll his eyes.

Saying that only proved to Himekoji again that Yuigahama was truly an idiot.

After all, Yukinoshita had said many sharp things to this dope too, but this big-boobed girl with no brains never noticed any of them…

Oh man, should I say she’s cute in her stupidity?

“Maybe she got tired of it… nothing has been getting better, even the push-ups, I can’t do five in a row yet…”

Saying so, Totsuka hung his head a little, looking a bit down.

Hmm… although Yukinoshita did often give people that feeling, that’s true.

But—

“Not like that! Yukino-chan never gives up on people who ask her for help!”

“Yes, she even agreed to cook with Yuigahama, so since Totsuka has potential, of course Yukinoshita wouldn’t give up.”

Hikigaya, who had stood quietly by and made full use of his talent for being unseen, just then suddenly spoke up.

Whoa, that sharp tongue of his was almost as good as Yukinoshita’s!

So, Himekoji Akito couldn’t help but give Hikigaya a little admiring look.

“What do you mean by that?”

Himekoji didn’t join in the next argument between Yuigahama and Hikigaya; instead, he squatted down alone, picked up the scattered tennis balls one by one, and handed them to Saika.

“Let’s keep going.”

“Okay!!”

After the spirited reply, Totsuka started practicing again.

After that, Totsuka never said another weak thing, never yelled that he was tired, just gritted his teeth and tried his hardest.

Totsuka was really trying hard.

…

“I’m tired now, it’s Akito’s turn.”

But it was the ball thrower Yuigahama who gave out first.

“Oh.”

Of course, the person who looked free could only be ordered around.

Himekoji didn’t refuse and took over the tennis balls from her honestly.

“Great, I can rest at last; I got tired of it from the fifth ball, so you better be careful.”

Only five balls? That’s too soon…

Seriously, how poor is your patience?…

Himekoji was silently complaining in his head, but the very next moment, loud, noisy voices suddenly came from outside the tennis court.

“Ah, they’re playing tennis! Playing tennis!”

Hearing that voice, the look on Yuigahama’s face suddenly got a bit stiff.

Himekoji Akito turned to see— it was Hayama and Miura leading a big pack of “normies” arriving in a flash.

“Ah… it’s Yui and them…”

Some girl whose name wasn’t known, next to Miura, looked this way and suddenly said softly in a small voice.

“Totsuka, can we come here to play too?”

As expected of Queen Miura, she easily ignored the small fries around Totsuka.

Hmm, yes, Himekoji Akito was one of those small fries.

Since boys and girls privately called Totsuka “the prince,” only a “prince” deserved to talk to a “queen,” no?

“Miura-san, I’m not here playing… how to say, I’m practicing…”

“Huh? What? Didn’t hear you,” Queen didn’t care about Totsuka’s quiet protest; as soon as she spoke, Totsuka went quiet.

Anyone would go quiet if they heard that…

Plus, Miura saying that was really scary…

Totsuka hesitated for a moment, then found his courage again to speak—

“P-practice…”

That should be clear enough?

But Queen probably thought that was like hot air.

“Practice? But there are outsiders here, right? Those over there are not tennis club members. Since they can use this court, adding us shouldn’t be a problem, right?”

“But… even so… I guess…”

Totsuka stumbled over his words, clearly stuck.

Himekoji shook his head and got ready to step in, but again, someone beat him to it.

Just like in the classroom the other day, the first to come forward this time was again Hikigaya.

Hikigaya was tricky— he beat Himekoji to it again!

“Ah… sorry, but Totsuka got the rights to this court, so we have to say no.”

“Huh? So what? Outsiders like you are using it too, right?”

“You may have it wrong— we’re here to help Totsuka practice, like a business job, outsourcing kind of thing.”

Himekoji didn’t want to lose to his “imaginary rival,” so he quickly jumped in and took over.

“Huh? You said something that makes no sense at all. How gross!”

Gro— gross?!

Himekoji Akito felt lines of blackness all over his head.

Honestly, that girl didn’t even listen to him, did she?

That’s why he hated dumb airheads like her!

If she couldn’t understand anything, weren’t her ears just for decoration?

“Look, everyone just wants to play tennis here. We don’t need to fight over it so much.”

To lighten the mood, Hayama beside Miura laughed warmly and started to smooth things over.

That was pure Hayama style.

“How about this? Let’s have a match. The winners get to use the court. But, of course, together with Totsuka. Practicing with the stronger side will help Totsuka improve faster. That way, no one can complain, right?”

In just a moment, Hayama had come up with a plan that seemed perfect.

“A tennis match? Sounds so fun!”

Hayama’s little followers got excited right away.

“Let’s start! Let’s start!”

“Exactly, that’s what we should do!”

“Matches are the most exciting!”

…

The voices were almost all on one side, so there was no choice but to accept.

Himekoji shook his head wordlessly.

Ah, this is just…

now there’ll be more trouble to deal with.