Chapter 78 Chapter 78 Zongzi

Compared to last year when no one paid attention, this year's Rikkai University event was even broadcast live on TV.

My grandmother, who was tripped by Da Hu and injured her knee a few days ago, can now watch the game at home.

And Yuihara Xiangcheng's busy parents finally took the time to open their phones and take a look, but then they felt a little guilty. They really rarely paid attention to Xiangcheng's daily life.

It seems that the best thing I did at the moment was to bring her to Kanagawa because of my job transfer.

With such emotions, the family scattered in several places, all paying attention to Xiangcheng's performance today.

Xiangcheng also put aside all his worries and focused on the opponent's blocking movements.

They wanted to drive her to the big slash line, but she just didn't meet their expectations.

Xiangcheng began to look for a breakthrough in the blocking player's reactions and gestures. Unconsciously, she seemed to have returned to that pure world, and the opponent's every move became clear and slow.

She made a gesture as if she wanted to throw the ball high in the air, and when Matsumoto Xianyin lifted the ball to the highest point, she did not jump in a hurry.

The opposing blocker obviously didn't understand her movements and had already opened the defense before she jumped.

As a result, it was not until they reached the highest point that Xiangcheng took a step back and, at a not-so-perfect hitting point, used her left hand to hit a powerful straight ball.

The opponent made a misjudgment and Xiangcheng scored.

"That's awesome, Xiangcheng!"

"This one's fine, fine, fine!"

…Xiang Cheng chuckled at the compliments from his teammates.

She avoided the camera's close-up and turned sideways, leaving only her back in the screen.

With her left hand, she tucked the loose hair behind her ear, then squatted down, ready to receive the third ball.

"It seems that Yuihara Kaoru's ability to read the game has been fully developed."

"Yes, viewers who have followed this player before should know that although her spikes aren't very powerful, she has always been Rikkai University's top scorer thanks to her grasp of timing and tricky angles."

Two volleyball enthusiast anchors were commentating on the game, and they made no secret of their praise for Yuihara Kaoru.

The grandmother at home was hugging her two cats and smiling very kindly. Although the shaking scenes on the TV made her presbyopic eyes uncomfortable, she still insisted, putting on her glasses and taking them off to watch the Orange game.

"It's rare to see Dr. Jieyuan turn on the TV while he's seeing patients!" A patient who had undergone an ablation surgery and came for a regular checkup was surprised to see that the TV in Jieyuan Nagatomo's office was turned on one day.

Yuhara Nagatomo straightened his expression and retracted his gaze: "I'm so sorry, my daughter's game is being broadcast live, so I thought... if it disturbs you, I'll turn it off immediately."

"It's okay," the old man waved his hands quickly, but he looked at the TV screen: "Is this number 5? The face looks a lot like you!"

"Yes, her name is Xiangcheng, and she's the main attacker at Rikkai University."

Hearing the hint of boasting in his tone, the old man laughed out loud: "Dr. Jieyuan rarely mentions his family!"

"Ah... yes, I always feel like I need to focus more. Today is really..."

The old man took out his own medical checkup sheet and said, "Here, it won't affect anything. This will make you look more approachable, Doctor Jieyuan!"

Yuhara Nagatomo carefully checked the parameters and nodded with satisfaction, "If only all patients were as obedient as you!"

The old man looked quite pleased with himself: "When you get older, you have to take care of yourself, especially for an old man like me who almost died~"

"That's quite right," Yuhara Nagatomo stood up and saw him out, "I hope you can keep it up."

"No need to send anymore!" The old man picked up his list again and said, "Ah, your daughter's name is Yuihara Kaoru, right? I'll support her in the competition with my family!"

"Thank you very much!"

From the TV, cheers of Orange scoring were heard again.

Yuhara Nagatomo glanced back and saw his daughter rubbing her left arm and surrounded by her teammates.

Trying to be brave again.

After Rikkai University had a brief celebration after successfully winning the game, Teacher Misaki asked all the players to do post-match stretching.

Rika looked curiously at Xiangcheng who was not in a good mood, and then looked at Yukimura who had walked from the stands to the front.

"Did you two have a fight?"

"No," Xiangcheng smiled to hide her smile, "I don't think there will be any quarrel."

Rika shifted her weight from her left leg to her right, getting closer to Kaoru. "But you used to talk to Yukimura after the game. Everyone said that was when you looked like you were in love, eager to share the joy of victory with your sweetheart."

"Oh, it's the same if you go after stretching."

Xiangcheng's avoidance was so obvious that Rika couldn't help but worry: "Could it be that... the novelty has worn off?"

"That won't do. I think Yukimura is already a very good boy in our school. It would be hard to find another one like him. Don't be so depressed!"

Xiangcheng turned to look at her speechlessly: "Can you not be so pessimistic?"

"But you look so pessimistic..."

Xiangcheng slowly retracted one leg and did not take the next step.

Touching the most offensive part of others made her feel very offensive.

Even though Yukimura Seiichi's attitude remained the same as usual, she couldn't help but feel alienated for a moment.

She seemed to be being too cautious these days.

“Ahhh, I’m sorry, I was wrong…” Rika strode over: “It’s okay, it’s okay!”

Xiangcheng stuck out her tongue: "What are you doing?"

"You scared me to death," Li Xiang squeezed her hand vigorously. "If you're okay... then let's go?"

"Um."

Rika glanced worriedly at the stands, which were empty.

What are these two doing?

Fortunately, when they went out, they saw Yukimura waiting next to the bus.

Yukimura Seiichi came over naturally: "Are you tired?"

Xiangcheng shook her head: "Not bad."

"Then...can we go back together?"

Xiang Cheng hesitated for a moment and replied, "I'll go ask the coach first."

"good."

Kasumi went to the car first to look for Misaki-sensei, while Rika fell behind and whispered, "What's wrong with you two?"

Yukimura gave a wry smile, "To be honest, I'm also looking for the reason, but it must be my fault."

Rika also began to recall, when exactly did something seem wrong with Xiangcheng?

But everything seems so natural, and it is difficult to find any clues.

"Ah, forget it. I don't care anymore. If you two really break up, I'll be responsible for handing paper to Xiangcheng."

Facing Yukimura's murderous gaze, Rika greeted Xiangcheng who got out of the car with a smile: "How is it?"

Xiangcheng also added a smile: "The coach said it's okay."

"Then you guys go ahead," Li Xiang already had one foot on the pedal when she thought, "I heard there's a festival going on in Chinatown, you guys can go check it out!"

"Okay." Xiangcheng agreed.

Yukimura felt relieved for some reason. He was afraid that Kaoru would say that she didn't want to go with him.

Wandering around Yokohama's Chinatown, Xiangcheng was quickly immersed in the dazzling array of Dragon Boat Festival colored ropes and purses.

After a while, Yukimura Seiichi, who had been acting as a background board, had several more paper bags in his hands.

"Do you want to buy so much?" Yukimura innocently showed the spoils in his hand.

Xiang Cheng saw a sign in the window of another shop selling rice dumplings and was about to go in when she heard him. She turned around, quickly glanced at Yukimura, and said, "Well... Mainly because my grandma buys a lot of them every year as gifts for her friends. Now she has a leg injury and can't go out, so I bought some just because I saw them."

"Injuried?"

On the crowded street, Yukimura Seiichi lowered his voice, as if he was about to be carried away by the crowd: "Why... didn't you tell me?"

Xiangcheng only then realized this problem.

We have been chatting about everything for several months, and it seems that recently, I would rather play games alone than open the chat interface on my phone.

She didn't know what she was feeling awkward about.

"If that's the case, I should go visit her." Yukimura Seiichi's disappointment, which was hard to hide, made Xiangcheng even more uncomfortable.

Xiangcheng grinned and said, "Then let's buy some rice dumplings."

Yukimura Seiichi noticed something and said, "What flavor does grandma like to eat?"

"Well, rice dumplings."

…

"Don't be so polite, Yukimura." Grandma sat down on the sofa and greeted him apologetically. Da Hu seemed to still have some impression of him and lay down at Yukimura's feet to try to get his money.

Yukimura was pulled to sit down by Xiangcheng and nodded: "I should have come earlier, but I have been training so..."

Grandma looked at Xiangcheng, picked up Da Hu and placed him on Yukimura's lap. She smiled and said, "It's okay. It's inevitable that you will stumble when you get older. How are your family members?"

Xiangcheng stood up to pour water, leaving his grandmother and Yukimura to exchange pleasantries.

She stood in the kitchen, leaning against the wall, waiting for the sound of steam boiling in the kettle. The conversation between the two people outside became increasingly vague.

"Our Xiangcheng is actually a very shy child," Grandma said casually, "I saw her hiding from the camera during the competition."

"Oh, yes." Yukimura, who had just been talking about his family, immediately sat up.

The grandmother looked at the boy in front of her and said: "So it may take a long time for others to find out what's in your heart."

"It was her grandfather who noticed she was being bullied at school a few years ago. But she had already dealt with it by then, and we later discussed letting her transfer to another school."

Yukimura understood what his grandmother meant and said gratefully, "Thank you."

"It's nothing," Grandma said softly, "You're fine, Yukimura-kun."

Yukimura felt a little jealous for a moment.

"Grandma...just call me Jingshi."

"Just think of Xiangcheng as being willful," Grandma glanced into the kitchen, where Xiangcheng had already made tea. "Girls should always have the right to be willful, right?"

"You're right." Yukimura regained his relaxed smile, and after Xiangcheng came out, his conversation with his grandmother changed to the morning game.

Da Hu rolled leisurely in Yukimura's arms, then remembered that he was still hungry, so he immediately rubbed against Xiang Cheng's feet, meowing "Meow~Woo~".

Xiang Cheng, who was holding a teacup, kicked its fat belly in disdain: "You think of me when you're hungry?"

In return, Dahu sounded even more flatteringly as he drove his motorcycle.

Yukimura stood up and took the teacup from her: "I'll do it, you be careful."

Grandma smiled so hard that wrinkles appeared at the corners of her eyes.

It’s great to be young.

After tasting the different flavors of rice dumplings they brought, Yukimura stood up to leave. Grandma quickly said, "Xiangcheng, go too. Don't stay home this weekend."

Yukimura also looked at Kaoru questioningly.

"All right."