Chapter 34

After filling out the application form, the next step was the review process. Because there were not many people who came to register, and the entry threshold was not set too high, Senior Fuji almost agreed to my application with a wave of his hand on the spot.

Me: Such great authority... (No)

"Welcome Miss Koizumi as the 46th member of our club!"

The senior who had just warmly entertained me said this with a happy face, and then began to introduce me,

"My name is Kanamuratani, a sophomore. I'm currently the treasurer and manager of the Gardening Club. You already know Senior Fuji, so I won't introduce you any further... And the guy handing out brochures is a third-year student, Suhara Tsuneya... Also, the former club president is on leave, and two other members can't make it today due to something. I'll introduce you to each other when we have a chance to meet again!"

I am the forty-sixth member.

It is said that this club has been established... I read the introduction in the brochure again and again.

Yes, you read that right, it has been established for eight years.

So, only a few new students are willing to join every year? !

I was shocked by this. There was no need for an entrance exam, no mandatory participation in club activities, etc. This is clearly a paradise!

How could he end up like this?

Perhaps seeing through my thoughts, Senior Jincun immediately said seriously, "This world has become too impetuous. Everyone only pays attention to the most active clubs on the stage, enjoying the flowers and applause from the crowd... Few people are willing to calm down like you, cultivate their character in a place where no one is paying attention, and get close to nature. After all, green is the color of life..."

Stop talking, senior.

The more you talk, the more guilty I feel...

I awkwardly responded to her words, then quickly changed the subject and my gaze. Seeing that Senior Fuji was still tending to that beautiful Phalaenopsis orchid, I immediately feigned interest and moved closer.

"Senior Fuji, are these the flowers you grew?"

I sighed,

"It's really beautiful! I think it's good enough to enter a competition..."

"My junior is really good at talking. I'm just raising her for fun, not for participating in a competition."

I nodded quickly.

But this is not a compliment at all. The branches are covered with plump and rich flowers, like butterflies resting on them. At first glance, I see at least eight or nine flower buds hanging on each branch.

Because Aunt Hayami opened a flower shop, I know a bit about flowers. A Phalaenopsis like this should be at least A-grade...

Maybe the Phalaenopsis orchid is growing too well and the flowerpot is a little small, so Senior Fuji is busy changing the pot for the Phalaenopsis orchid.

His movements were very careful, but he was very skilled. He cleaned the soil attached to the root ends of the Phalaenopsis in the pot to expose the intricate root system to avoid damage, and said to me,

"Junior, could you please help me get that pottery basin?"

Holding the Phalaenopsis orchid in both hands, he no longer had any hands free to pick up the ceramic pot.

So I walked over almost without thinking, picked up the empty ceramic pot on another table and handed it to him. He had already cleaned out all the roots in the pot, and then placed the large Phalaenopsis orchid in the new ceramic pot.

"Thank you, junior."

He looked up at me and smiled, then continued to concentrate on fiddling with the Phalaenopsis orchid, expertly cleaning the rotten roots, then re-covering it with soil, mixing it with the prepared sand, and finally watering it...

The slender fingers have distinct joints, and as they flexibly move between the complex roots and soil, one can clearly see how the protruding joints and veins move.

His hands were covered in mud, but the contrast was even more apparent.

If you hold a tennis racket constantly, you'll probably develop calluses on your palms... They'll probably feel rough and itchy...

Seeing me staring at his hands in a daze, he thought I was unhappy because I got my hands dirty while helping him with the flower pot, so he said, "Junior? Sorry, I think I got your hands dirty..."

His words brought me back to my senses instantly. My face flushed red and I frantically pulled at the hem of my skirt to wipe off the mud on my palms.

"N-Never mind!"

I responded randomly, not daring to admit that I had just been transfixed by his hands. And for a moment, I was envious of the orchid, which had been favored by Senior Fuji's beautiful hands...

What a sinner I am!

*

In the second week of the new semester, Qingxue's tennis club also had its first friendly match with St. Rudolph's College.

Of course, this has nothing to do with me.

However, Ai Li hooked up with a beautiful lady who was in charge of the logistics department of the student union. The lady was worried about the lack of logistics staff during the competition between the two schools. In order to win her favor, Ai Li took the initiative to say that she could help, and she also generously said that she could ask her friends to help.

That great enemy friend is me.

I was very reluctant at first because the friendly match was scheduled for Saturday. Instead of wasting time on these things, it would be better for me to stay at home and look at a few more questions.

But Ai Li actually threatened that if I was willing to go, she would help me do the duty for two months. I calculated that sacrificing a small Saturday could exchange for two months of duty...so I agreed without hesitation.

The work of the logistics department is not very heavy. They are worried that the mixing of students from the two schools may cause some disturbances, so they only need to maintain order, provide route guidance on site, and deliver water and supplies as appropriate.

The task assigned to me and Airi was to deliver water to them——

Five full boxes of mineral water!!

I was completely stunned.

This is not volunteering, this is simply being treated like a slave!

Airi looked apologetic. "Sorry, the logistics department is mostly made up of girls, and the few boys left have been assigned to move heavier equipment. So even the girls have to help move things... But it's okay, we have this... thump thump! It's a cart!"

Me: 6

*

As Airi and I were unloading, the tennis courts over there were bustling with activity. The entire St. Rudolph Tennis Club's regular players were in attendance, giving Seigaku a great deal of honor as the host for this friendly match.

This includes Shusuke Fuji's younger brother, Yuuta Fuji.

But as soon as he arrived at the stadium, he began to look around, as if looking for someone.

Seeing his teammate looking distracted, fellow teammate Akazawa Yoshiro asked, "Yuta, are you okay? Are you looking for your brother?"

He immediately retorted, "How is that possible! Why would I look for that guy, my brother?!"

After saying this, her ears suddenly turned red. I don't know what she was thinking about, but the more she looked at it, the more suspicious it became...

"Hey Yuta, is the girl you like here?"

Fuji Yuta:! ! !

"Is it that obvious?! Hehehe, I heard she got into Seigaku. I wonder if I can run into her..."

The red on the boy's ears quickly spread, and his face turned red in an instant, as if he was about to explode in the next second.

“…”

Seeing this, Akazawa Yoshiro could only sigh helplessly.

“It wasn’t obvious before, but now it’s super obvious~”

"Okay, Akazawa, stop teasing Yuta..."

Guan Yueyue, who was also the manager of St. Rudolph, interrupted the other party's teasing and turned to look at Fuji Yuta and said:

"Yuta, don't worry. After the game, as long as you follow my method, you will definitely be able to win that cute school girl. You must have confidence in yourself, and also have confidence in me as your love strategist. My data and methods will not be wrong... The most important thing right now is to win this friendly match... We have to let the guys in Seigaku know that our St. Rudolph is no longer what it used to be..."

As he was speaking, Fuji Shusuke and Inui Sadaharu passed by him almost silently.

The former gave him a half-smile, but deep in his slightly narrowed eyes was a sharpness that only he could sense, as if mocking what he had just said.

Damn it, did he hear it?

Never mind, it didn't reveal any important tactics anyway...

So he snorted coldly, his tone revealing an unconcealed smugness. "We've made thorough preparations this time, and we're definitely going to give Seigaku a complete surprise... It won't be that easy to defeat us!"

In preparation for this friendly match, Guan Yuechu did a lot of research and also made a lot of adjustments to his tennis skills. He was confident that he could break Fuji Shusuke's tricks. Although he might not be able to defeat that guy, he would definitely be able to surprise him.

His calculation was very good, because as the host, Seigaku would definitely give up the ball in the first game as a courtesy, and with Fuji Shusuke's bad temper, they would definitely tease him in the second and even third rounds. So there was a high possibility that he would win the first three games when the opponent had not yet used his full strength, and the fourth game would be the watershed... At that time, he would use the moves specially prepared for Fuji Shusuke's tricks, which would definitely catch him off guard.

If I'm lucky... maybe there's a chance to draw or win. Even if I can't win, it's enough to avenge my previous defeat in this game... and get revenge for being fooled around by him before!

Thinking of this, he met Fuji Shusuke's gaze directly, and even responded with a provocative smile, as if to say 'Just wait and see'.

The curve of Fuji Shusuke's mouth deepened a little.

The first match was between Fuji Shusuke of Seigaku and Guan Yue of St. Rudolph.

Before going on stage, Tezuka Kunimitsu said with some concern: "Fuji, don't go too far."

After all, that person has a deep connection with the two brothers, and this is a friendly match, so they have to leave some room for the other party.

Fuji Shusuke simply tightened his grip on his racket and replied briskly, "Of course."

Of course he knows his limits.

Unlike some people, who have absolutely no sense of boundaries...

"Seigaku vs. St. Rudolph, first match, Seigaku Fuji Shusuke serves."

Everything was going as Guan Yuechu had predicted.

Until Fuji Shusuke threw the little yellow ball in his hand high up, and then jumped. The little yellow ball, which was exerted with force, spun rapidly, rushing towards Guan Yuechu at a speed that was completely incapable of being detected by the naked eye.

The ball was like a comet crashing to the earth, with unstoppable momentum and a very dangerous and precise posture, just brushing past Guan Yuechu's cheek two centimeters away.

Although she didn't touch him, Guan Yuechu suddenly felt a burning sensation on her cheeks for no reason, as if she was also burned by the invisible aura.

This is a completely merciless fight from the beginning...

“Beep—”

"15:0, Qingxue scores"

Did that guy eat dynamite?

Why didn't he follow his script at all...

*

When Airi and I arrived at the tennis court with the cart, the friendly match had already begun. The first match was between Senior Fuji and St. Rudolph.

Although I don't understand much about tennis, anyone with a discerning eye can tell that Fuji-senpai is completely dominating his opponent.

The impression that Senior Fuji has always given me is that he is very gentle and considerate, especially when he is concentrating on taking care of plants, his whole body exudes a sense of purity and purity.

But senior Fuji on the field today seemed a little different.

If the previous senior Fuji was as gentle and beautiful as jade, then the one on the court at this moment was like a sharp sword, with clear edges and corners.

Is this what Senior Fuji looks like when he plays basketball seriously?

The cheers, applause, applause, and referee's whistle all seemed to melt away in the brilliant sunlight, the vibrant colors twisted into a chaotic yet grand palette. Only the flaxen-haired boy on the field remained dazzling. His blue eyes, rarely fully opened, were as pure as the sky, revealing a sharp desire for victory that made it impossible to look away...

To put it simply, I was stunned.

I don't know when, I stopped and stood outside the iron net, staring blankly at Senior Fuji on the field.

It wasn't until a familiar call pulled me back from my trance that I woke up from my dream.

"Nana?"

I turned my head and looked in the direction of the voice. I saw a young man with a buzz cut and a scar on his forehead.

It looks a little familiar, so I took another look.

After several seconds, the memory image in my mind finally matched the face in front of me.

I said in surprise: "Friends and relatives?! Why are you here?!"