Chapter 57 The finger he bit was faintly burning.
The day we set off for the training camp was a beautiful day.
The sky was clear and blue for miles.
The tennis club's summer beach training camp accommodation was a resort hotel run by an old friend of Yuzuki's father.
When Risa came downstairs, Akaya was changing his shoes in the entryway. He was carrying a bulging tennis bag and waved excitedly at Risa: "Risa-nee! We're off!"
Risa smiled and nodded, then poured herself a glass of milk and went upstairs.
The tennis club took a bus and departed quite early. The four girls from the doujinshi club were picked up by Yuzuki's family, so they didn't need to rush.
Risa returned to her room, and her phone on the table vibrated.
[Tennis Doujin Club · LUMIERA Group Chat]
Chinatsu: @Risa-senpai, we'll be at the door in 30 minutes, get ready! (＾V＾)
Chinatsu: I heard the hotel has a private beach! (≧▽≦)
Asuka: I brought the latest underwater camera, so remember to bring a few extra swimsuits!
Jieyue: We'll be driving along the coastal highway; we'll see incredibly beautiful sea views!
Chika: Yuzuki-senpai even brought tons of snacks! We could have a tea party on the way! ￣▽￣
Just as Risa was about to reply, a phone call came in.
I pressed the answer button and paused for a second.
"What? It's a harassing call."
After hanging up, Risa put down her phone and quickly packed her luggage.
In a short while, the group chat was flooded with more than a dozen messages.
[Tennis Doujin Club · LUMIERA Group Chat]
Asuka: @Yuzuki, confess and you'll be treated leniently! Is that blond guy in the driver's seat really just "the son of my father's friend"? (￢v￢)
Yuzuki: Huh?! [Cat in shock.jpg]
Yuzuki: Y-Of course it's true! Mitsuya-senpai is the owner of the hotel we're staying at; he was just helping us get there...
Chinatsu: Whoa~ Yuzuki-senpai's ears are red! (·ω·) And the way you guys were sharing snacks just now was like a scene from a romance manga!
Asuka: Exactly! Even the car music suddenly turned into jazz, this atmosphere is so suspicious!
(Ten minutes later)
Asuka: Hey~ The sun's shining on my butt! @Risa, you didn't stay up all night again to finish your manuscript, did you?
Risa: [Energetic panda head.jpg]
Risa: Ready! 3 sketchbooks, an all-in-one drawing computer (with external hard drive), iPad + spare pen refills + paper screen protector, script, and a newly bought gradient sun hat~ Waves and sunset, here I come! ヽ(·v·)ノ
Asuka:......
Asuka: Your gear list is more outrageous than our club's annual budget! Are you going on vacation or a business trip?! (╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻
Shortly after, a discreet black sedan slowly pulled up in front of the Kirihara family villa.
The car window rolled down, revealing Chinatsu's bright smile: "Risa-senpai, get in the car! Yuzuki-senpai brought tons of snacks!"
Asuka, sitting in the back seat, waved a sunscreen spray: "I've prepared a sunscreen gift set! SPF50+ waterproof and sweatproof, want to reapply now?"
As soon as Yuzuki got out of the car, she couldn't help but laugh out loud, lightly covering her mouth with her fingers: "Risa, with that 24-inch suitcase... are you planning to live by the sea forever?"
“It’s a professional habit.” Risa patted her bulging suitcase. “An all-in-one drawing computer, a sketchbook, and an iPad are all for different occasions. I can’t feel at ease if I’m missing any of them.”
As she was carrying her suitcase to the trunk, the driver's door made a soft opening sound.
A tall, slender young man walked slowly towards them. He had a rare head of long, golden hair, casually draped behind his head, with distinct layers. Behind his thin-rimmed glasses, a pair of grey-green eyes held a gentle smile.
—He's a rare handsome man.
Even though Risa had seen many handsome men in the entertainment industry in her previous life, the person in front of her still made her eyes light up.
But his beauty is completely different from Yukimura's. If Yukimura is like a blooming iris, bright and dazzling; this man is like an autumn ginkgo, quiet and composed.
"This is Mitsuya Akuto, the son of my father's close friend. He is a first-year medical student at the University of Tokyo."
When Yuzuki introduced her, her tone was light and cheerful. Then she turned to the young man and said, "She is the soul artist and president of our club, Matsuno Risa."
"I've heard so much about you." Mitsuya nodded slightly. "Just leave the luggage to me."
"Thank you—" Before Risa could finish speaking, the young man had already deftly taken her suitcase.
His fingers are long and slender with distinct knuckles. When he carries luggage, his forearms are taut, revealing a sense of strength.
Risa stared at the face for a few more seconds, feeling a strange sense of familiarity, as if she had seen it somewhere before.
"What are you daydreaming about?" Yuzuki pushed Risa towards the car.
Soft piano music filled the carriage, mixed with the sweet scent unique to girls.
Asuka hugged a bag of sea salt potato chips and munched on them like a little squirrel. Chinatsu took out some homemade cookies and gave a portion to everyone.
“Chika’s skills are getting more and more professional,” Yuzuki said, picking up a starfish-shaped cookie. “How about we set up a stall at the next Umihara Festival?”
As she spoke, she naturally reached out towards the driver's seat.
As Mitsuya drove, his eyes were fixed ahead, but he slightly turned his head to receive the biscuit. His thin lips brushed against Yuzuki's fingertips as he touched the biscuit. However, both of them remained calm and composed, their understanding natural, as if nothing had happened.
The three people in the back seat were shocked.
Chika quickly created an encrypted channel in the group chat:
[Seaside Expedition - Today's Sugar Overload - Small Team]
Chinatsu: I bet my treasured limited edition macarons that they're definitely dating!
Asuka: That indirect kiss just now was so practiced! Yuzuki didn't even blush!
Chinatsu: And Yuzuki-senpai wore a new lip gloss today...
Risa stared at the group chat messages and suddenly froze.
A scene that seemed familiar suddenly struck her—
Under the streetlight, the boy bent down and bit the candy between her fingers, his warm lips brushing against her fingertips, the gentle touch of his teeth against her knuckles...
"!"
Risa suddenly curled her index finger, as if someone's teeth mark was still branded there. Even though more than a month had passed, the knuckle where she had been bitten suddenly felt hot at this inopportune moment.
(So this is how other people perceive the development of a shoujo manga?!)
(Could it be that Yukimura had feelings for her from that time on...?)
Risa shook her head vigorously, mechanically moving her fingers to type a line in the group chat: 【Maybe it's just a good relationship, like... like childhood friends who are like siblings...?】
The moment the message was sent—
(System notification: Risa has been removed from the group chat)
5 seconds later
(System notification: Risa has rejoined the group chat)
Risa: ......
Risa: You two are going too far! (╯▔皿▔)╯
A vast blue sea flashed past the car window, and in the distance, clusters of buildings stretched along the coastline.
Mitsutani pushed up his glasses, and his gentle face was reflected in the rearview mirror: "Everyone, we've arrived."
-
Seaside Resort Hotel Lobby
The air conditioning was blasting, creating a stark contrast with the heat outside, as if they were two completely different worlds.
Kirihara Akaya leaned over the reception desk, loudly complaining about the room assignments: "Why am I sharing a room with Vice-Captain Sanada again? He's definitely going to drag me to 5 a.m. for special training again!"
Marui Bunta, blowing a bubble of gum, casually pushed his luggage towards the jackal: "So, who do you want to share a room with? How about Captain Yukimura?"
Kirihara Akaya froze instantly, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on: "...I think I'll choose the vice-captain."
The automatic glass doors in front of the hotel lobby slid open.
Four girls walked in, dragging their suitcases, bringing with them the heat of summer.
Risa wiped the thin layer of sweat from her forehead and caught a glimpse of the boy standing by the marble pillar out of the corner of her eye.
Yukimura was looking down at the training manual. Hearing the noise, he looked up, and their eyes met briefly in mid-air.
Risa unconsciously tightened her grip on the suitcase handle.
(...Do you have anything to say?)
(That happened just yesterday...)
(Should I explain? No, that would be too deliberate.)
She pursed her lips slightly, countless opening lines flashing through her mind, but she rejected them one by one.
Just then, the conversation behind them broke the silence.
"I'm sorry to bother you again this summer camp, Akyuu-nii."
"No, we are all very happy that you could come. And we heard that the number of tourists coming to the beach has also increased."
Risa turned around at the sound and saw Yanagi Renji talking to the young man who had brought them there.
Suddenly I realized.
No wonder she thought the blond young man looked familiar...
Mitsuya Akuto, former official member of the U-17 national team, number 17. The pioneer of data tennis, his strength is unfathomable, and he is also Renji's mentor.
Mitsuya: "Has everyone's room been arranged?"
Liu Lian'er: "Hmm."
Mitsuya's gaze fell on Yuzuki, and he said gently, "Yuzuki, take your friends to check in."
Yuzuki nodded and beckoned Risa and her group to walk towards the front desk.
While checking in, Chinatsu was holding Asuka's hand: "Senpai, let's stay in one room. You have to teach me that crochet stitch tonight!"
Yuzuki covered her mouth and laughed, "Okay! Then Risa and I will share a room."
"You want to stay with me?" Risa winked as she took the room key, teasing Yuzuki, "I think it would be more convenient for Miss to stay in a single room."
Asuka and Chinatsu nodded in unison: "Yes! For your convenience!"
Those who know, know exactly what makes it convenient.
Yuzuki hooked her arm around Risa's neck and swept her threatening gaze over the other two: "If you call me Miss again, I'll throw you both into the sea to feed the fish."
After checking in, the group was about to go upstairs together when Risa's phone suddenly rang.
"Excuse me, you guys go up first, I need to take this call." She dragged her suitcase to a corner of the lobby.
The call was from an editor at Seventeen magazine, confirming the layout details for the next issue.
After hanging up the phone, Risa was about to walk towards the elevator—
"Risa-nee!"
Akaya Kirihara jumped out from the side and grabbed her luggage. "I'll help you with your luggage. What floor do you live on? Are we on the same floor?"
Risa was jolted back by the sudden force and almost lost her balance. This energetic girl is always so impulsive.
"Aka, you can't be so impulsive." Yukimura's voice came from behind.
Kirihara exclaimed "Ah!" and immediately let go, scratching his head: "Sorry, sorry..."
After regaining her footing, Risa turned to look at Yukimura.
He walked over, dragging a silver suitcase, and took the handle from her suitcase.
"Did you get the room key?" he asked Risa casually.
It was as if nothing had happened yesterday.
"......Um."
"Then I'll take you upstairs." Yukimura turned slightly to the side, gesturing for her to follow.
(...Why can he act so nonchalantly?)
(Or is it that... I'm the only person who cares?)
Risa followed half a step behind the boy, her fingers unconsciously clenching.
"Eh...???" Kirihara Akaya blinked blankly.
Was he being ostracized?
Not far away, Marui Bunta chewed his gum and muttered, "The minister is acting very strangely today."
"Puri~" Niou Masaharu replied lazily, giving the two people at the elevator entrance a meaningful look, "Looks like someone triggered a hidden plot."
"I bet a week's supply of limited edition bubble gum." Marui suddenly perked up. "These two are definitely what we thought they were, they can't escape the 7th and 8th laws."
"Deal!" Niou Masaharu narrowed his fox-like eyes. "I bet Minister Yukimura can't handle Risa-chan."
"Hey!" Cold sweat beaded on Jackal Kuwabara's forehead. "Using the minister as a wager, are you two living too comfortably?"
The bronze-skinned boy dragged two 22-inch suitcases with a headache, one of which had a laser card with the words "I am a genius" printed on it.
"Let's go, Bunta," Jackal sighed resignedly, dragging his suitcase toward another elevator. "If we don't drop off our luggage soon, Sanada's iron fist will be here."
Hi hi~
The red-haired boy straightened up and followed, arms crossed behind his head, looking relaxed and carefree.
-
The elevator doors slowly closed, leaving only Risa and Yukimura inside the car.
"Which floor?" Yukimura asked, swiping his card and hovering his finger above the button.
"...22nd floor."
"What a coincidence." He pressed a number, and the floor indicator light lit up. "What's the room number?"
"2207"
“I’m in 2209.” He tilted his head slightly, his bangs brushing against his brow bone. “Very close.”
(Too close...)
My ears inexplicably burned as memories of breaking down and crying in his arms yesterday flashed back.
How embarrassing! A grown man crying like that in the arms of a high school student is so inappropriate.
Risa silently looked away, wishing she could find a hole to crawl into.
"bite--"
The elevator stopped on the 22nd floor, and the moment the doors opened, a blast of cold air hit us.
Yukimura walked ahead, with Risa following a little behind him. Neither of them spoke, and the wheels made a dull thud on the carpet in the corridor.
In front of room 2207, Yukimura suddenly stopped. Risa was caught off guard, her nose almost touching his back, the faint scent of camellia mixed with the boy's body heat.
"Matsuno."
As he turned around, the warm yellow light of the corridor fell on half of his face, and the shadow of his eyelashes swept across his lower eyelids like feathers.
"You don't need to be so nervous or feel uncomfortable."
Risa raised her eyes and quickly lowered them again, her pearly teeth unconsciously biting her lower lip. The second button of his shirt was undone, and the muscles of his chest were faintly visible.
"If you hate me and don't want to see me, I will keep my distance from you in the future." His voice was lower and hoarser than usual, as if he was suppressing some emotion.
The suitcase was gently pushed in front of her, its wheels leaving shallow marks on the carpet.
"I'm sorry." He paused, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly. "It was wrong of me to lie to you about coming to the training camp..."
Risa's pupils trembled slightly, and her breath hitched.
Just as he turned around—
"......etc!"
She grabbed the hem of his shirt.
Yukimura stopped in his tracks, and the moment he turned his head to the side, his breath caught in his throat.
The dim, ambiguous warm light in the corridor outlined the girl's slightly upturned face.
Her eyes were wet, like black pearls soaking in water, with a faint red tinge at the corners and a light pink tinge on the tip of her nose. Her lips trembled, as if she had suffered a great injustice and was about to burst into tears.
"It's not what you think..."
Her voice was very soft, with a slight tremor at the end.
—Click.
The door to room 2207 opened without warning, and light poured in through the crack, falling onto the carpet in the hallway.
Yuzuki's hand, which was gripping the doorknob, froze in mid-air.
What she saw was:
The girl looked up, her fingers clutching the boy's clothes, her eyelashes trembling slightly, her lips parting slightly as if she were holding a secret thought.
The boy looked down at her, his eyes as deep as the night, filled with a complex mix of emotions, like pity, or something deeper and unspeakable.
The air seemed to freeze, their gazes locked silently in the dimly lit corridor, threatening to ignite at any moment.
Yuzuki: "...Sorry to bother you."
The sound of the door closing was deafening in the silent corridor.
Risa: "......"
Yukimura: "..."
-----------------------
Author's Note: Mitsuya Akuto is super handsome! [Let me see!]
Thank you to all my darlings for being with me all the way! [heart emoji]
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