Chapters 54, 55, and 56: Forced Kiss, Being Kissed Forcibly

Chapters 54, 55, and 56: Forced Kiss, Being Kissed Forcibly

The match moved fast, with wild twists in the story too.

Himekoji had gone from losing, to tying, to taking the lead—and now this winning shot—

“What… what was that?”

Miura gaped at the sky.

Hayama also looked up, squinting at the blinding glare overhead. But a moment later, he suddenly yelled in panic.

“Yumiko, get out of the way!”

Hayama shouted at the stunned Miura. It seemed he’d realized something, but it was too late.

The soaring ball gradually lost its momentum. With gravity pulling it down, the two forces balanced briefly—freezing it mid-air!

Then, that short balance shattered instantly. Potential energy became kinetic again, and the ball plummeted freely.

When it hit the ground, all its energy exploded out.

“Thump!”

Dirt and dust flew up as the ball landed.

After its long trip through the air, the ball kicked up a cloud of dust as it bounced again.

Refusing to give up, Miura chased after it wildly, scrambling through the dust cloud.

The ball soared toward the back of the court—straight at the metal fence.

—Ah, oh no!

Running too fast to stop, Miura crashed hard into the net.

Hayama realized it immediately and threw away his racket, sprinting toward Miura.

Could he make it? Could he make it?

A second of dead silence.

“Gulp”—someone’s loud swallow echoed.

Maybe it came from Himekoji himself.

Then, as the dust settled, the two figures finally became visible.

Hayama had slammed against the wire fence, holding Miura protectively in his arms. Her face flushed as she lightly gripped his chest.

Instantly, the crowd erupted in cheers and applause, everyone as excited as if in a live show.

Hayama patted Miura, who’d buried herself against him, murmuring it was okay—making her go even redder.

“Woo-hoo!” the teasing chorus surrounded Miura and Hayama.

“Hayama! Miura! Hayama! Miura!”

“Together! Together! Together!”

“FFFFF! Burn, burn, burn, burn, burn!”

Wait, stop mixing weird stuff in!

Anyway, amidst the happy cheers, the bell rang to end the club activity. Given how this story unfolded, the next scene would be a warm, sweet kiss moment, followed by the final “Good End” on-screen.

Everyone felt a mix of strange accomplishment and exhaustion, like they’d just watched a thrilling Hollywood blockbuster movie.

Then, everyone lifted Miura and Hayama high, tossing them three times in the air, before heading toward the teaching building together.

…

FUCK!

What was that?

They all just left, leaving the winner alone at the center of the Tennis Court.

Hey! I won! I beat Hayama and Miura!

No one even glanced back.

He’d won by relying on the System, so why did it feel like he’d still lost?

Damn it, didn’t Hayama lose the match but win life?

If someone could just land a girl that easily, my turn should come eventually!

[Ding!]

[First, heartfelt apologies—this outcome was due to our System’s oversight.]

[Rewards and compensation will be sent shortly.]

[Next—]

[Choose!]

【A: Forcefully kiss Miura.】

【B: Be forcefully kissed by Miura.】

Now, whenever Himekoji heard the System’s voice, he couldn’t help feeling annoyed.

Dammit, this lousy System was the real culprit behind his current sorry state!

So, it could just skip the fake apologies.

The main point was throwing these pervert options at him again, right?

Fine, fine, I’ll do it! Himekoji glared at the choices. But after just one glance, he froze.

Wait a second, what on earth was this Option B?!

Miura forcefully kissing… him? How could Miura possibly forcefully kiss him? He stared, baffled, at Hayama and Miura’s group walking away cheerfully from the tennis court.

Frankly, choosing either Option A or B would basically mean cheating on Hayama right in front of him… especially since the classmates had just mistook him and Miura for a couple.

Perfect!

No, more than perfect! This was absolutely fantastic!

Alright then, coach, I pick B!

B Chapter Fifty-One: Explode, Normie!

…

…

Still, seeing them like this, it’s no wonder they were being looked down on.

The second match quickly turned into a one-sided affair.

The losing side, naturally, was Hikigaya and Himekoji.

It’d be more accurate to say that no one had held any expectations for them in the first place.

As fellow members of the “Top Five Blacklist,” the two least popular, most disliked guys in the whole school teaming up? That could only mean they became even less popular and even more disliked.

“Even though everyone’s booing, shouldn’t we wrap this up soon?”

Miura seemed to have regained her confidence thanks to Himekoji and Hikigaya. It looked like she’d completely forgotten the terror of the previous match, where Yukinoshita dominated her and rubbed her face in the dirt.

The Queen had regained her former majesty and stood tall once more.

Could you say Himekoji and Hikigaya deserved all the credit?

Chuckling softly to herself, Miura narrowed her eyes as she looked down on Himekoji. She was probably figuring out how to get payback, with interest, for that teasing incident in the classroom a few days ago.

“You two are really useless, aren’t you? Can’t even score a single point against me?”

Riding her advantage, Miura piled on more verbal attacks.

Himekoji and Hikigaya could only, and had no choice but, to remain silent.

Miura was right; they were utterly useless.

Having only practiced against the wall, their solid fundamentals were their only asset. Beyond that, they were hopeless.

Plus, Himekoji Akito’s arms were sore and weak from overdoing the push-ups earlier. Even his basic swing was starting to look messed up and weird.

Otherwise, it wouldn’t have been so easy for the “Miura & Hayama” combo to overwhelm them completely.

“So, how about it? Want to beg me? If you plead sincerely enough, I might soften up and go easy on you.” Hearing Miura’s taunts, many of the spectators watching the fun couldn’t help but laugh along.

“Yeah, hurry up and beg Yumiko! She’ll definitely show mercy. She’s famous for being kind, you know!”

“That’s right! As long as you kneel down, Yumiko won’t hold it against you anymore.”

All sorts of chaotic voices rang out. The Queen’s little entourage, one by one, started making a racket.

“Oh well, everyone seems to be trying their best. Since that’s the case, maybe we shouldn’t take it too seriously?” Hayama quickly stepped forward, noticing the atmosphere was perhaps turning ugly. He mediated, trying to smooth things over for Himekoji’s side. “Everyone enjoyed themselves, right? How about we call it a draw?”

“Hayato, what are you talking about?” Miura wasn’t ready to back down. “A match is a match; we have to decide a winner properly!” She glared, pressing aggressively.

Hey, that’s enough. Don’t push it too far! If you really piss me off, I’ll make you pregnant right now, believe it or not?

Being pushed again and again was starting to get on Himekoji’s nerves too. He was seriously starting to consider whether or not to use that ultimate weapon the System gave him: the “Human-shaped Walking Artillery.”

However, right at that moment, Himekoji heard the sharp, exasperated click of a tongue—

“Tsk.”

“Is that Miura? Could you please… be a little quieter?”

The icy Yukinoshita spoke with an even colder voice.

And before Miura could even open her mouth to retort, Yukinoshita cut in with her second sentence, direct and crisp—

“Those two will handle this match. So just go ahead and admit defeat now.” Her clear voice left no room for doubt.

“Huh?”

Everyone doubted their own ears.

Himekoji and Hikigaya were no exception. In fact, they were the most stunned.

We… will handle this match?

Because of Yukinoshita’s words, they – who had been all but invisible on the court, existing only to be humiliated and slaughtered by Miura – were suddenly thrust into a shocking spotlight.

Their presence exploded.

…

However, Himekoji Akito was utterly bewildered.

He looked at Totsuka. For some reason, Totsuka, who hadn’t dared to watch the “slaughter” earlier, had both hands clasped over his heart and was looking at Himekoji with bright, expectant eyes.

He looked at Yuigahama. For some reason, Yuigahama, who had clearly thought they were doomed long ago, was beaming and giving him a big thumbs-up.

“Hikki, Akito, Gambaru!” (Go for it, do your best!)

Hey, don’t cheer so loudly! It’s embarrassing…

He looked at Yukinoshita… huh, well, he instinctively flinched and looked away, flustered.

That moment when she stood up for him, when no one else had any expectations… why did he feel so strangely complicated inside right now?

Then, the next second, Yukinoshita, standing coolly at the edge of the court, bent down casually. She picked up a ball that happened to land near her feet and tossed it over to him with a simple, effortless flick.

“Did you know? I’ve said harsh things before. I’ve spoken thoughtlessly. But I have never told a lie.”

Because the wind had died down, her words reached him with perfect clarity.

Yukinoshita alone never speaks lies.

Ah, I knew. Of course, I knew.

Because you were Yukinoshita — Yukinoshita who never lied and was always right.

Liars? Having me and those people as them was enough.

Himekoji Akito took the ball.

In the unnatural silence, the sound of the tennis ball hitting the ground echoed — thump, thump, thump.

Among those monotonous, regular noises, a special tension spread.

Himekoji completely sank his mind into himself.

“I can do it, I can do it,” he cheered for himself; no, he believed in himself!

Because he could not lose!

“Those two will handle this match, so please just admit defeat honestly.”

In his head, the girl’s clear, cold words that no one could question echoed again.

Yukinoshita said that, and Yukinoshita never lied.

…

After becoming a Pervert, Himekoji, who had never been expected by anyone, was expected for the first time.

Then, just this once, he wanted to answer that hope!

Since the System stepped into his life, he had never had good days at school. He lived alone with only shameful Pervert memories. He spent his sad, cold, lonely youth all by himself. He could not lose to those weaklings who always gathered together, leaned on each other for warmth, and licked each other’s wounds!

Yes, they were weaklings!

Only weaklings liked to stick in groups; strong ones were always alone!

He must not lose to those weaklings; he must not!

So, he must win!

Lowlifes, slackers, without discipline, useless rascals, always doing Pervert things — you look down on me, right?

Then, today, right here, I will win using the very thing you scorn most of all!

When others were in pairs, laughing and joking, swinging rackets together, practicing, and happily enjoying tennis, Himekoji was alone.

He, by himself, faced a wall that didn’t speak, didn’t answer, had no warmth, no feelings. Again and again, he hit the tennis ball against it.

Being alone meant he couldn’t practice volleying skills, couldn’t practice slicing skills, couldn’t practice returning skills, couldn’t practice smashing skills, couldn’t practice lifting skills, couldn’t practice serve receiving skills…

The only thing Himekoji could do was repeat over and over, without getting tired —

Serve, serve, serve!

Only serving; it had to be serving.

That was training!

There was no fun, just endless, boring repetition.

So, why should Himekoji, who trained so hard, lose to those Normies who only used tennis to pass the time? Why should he lose to those Normies who only used tennis as a social tool?

Why lose to Normies?

He would win.

He would win!

He must win!

Himekoji bounced the ball in his hand softly and gave out a light breath.

The next moment, clearing away all other thoughts and focusing his mind, he gently tossed the ball into the air. At the same time, he breathed in, he pushed with all his might, his whole body forming a tight bow shape. The racket face, with a quick snap of the wrist, struck the falling ball with huge force.

How about that?

My strongest shot!

Please —

Taste it, the youth I spent facing that wall!

Taste it, my endless loneliness!

Taste it, the boring days over and over!

Taste it… no, explode, Normie!