Chapter 132 Tennis 20
Kurikawa Sana just ran away like that.
He suddenly came out and challenged everyone with great fanfare and vigour, leaving an indelible mark in everyone's heart, and then left in such a carefree manner.
"Tsk, this guy really is..." Atobe Keigo put away his racket and it took a long time before he turned his gaze away from the direction where the girl disappeared.
Kurikawa Sanahito has slipped away, but the discussion she left behind continues.
"But it's strange. Since Kurikawa is such a strong tennis player, why doesn't she join the Hyotei Women's Tennis team and win honors for the school?"
"Oh, yeah, she's already this strong. Leading the women's tennis team to the national championship shouldn't be a problem, right?"
"Indeed, if he doesn't fight for the school, but just comes here and challenges everyone for no apparent reason and then runs away, wouldn't that be strange? Isn't that just pure arrogance..."
Hearing these discussions from the ordinary members of the men's tennis club, Usami, the head of the women's tennis club and the president of the Kurikawa Supporters Association, couldn't help but say, "Sana is in poor health, and we never forced her to join the women's tennis team. Even without Sana, we would have made it to the national competition on our own!"
"Eh? So that's how it is?"
"Is Kurikawa not feeling well?"
Hearing this, Atobe Keigo frowned.
She was not feeling well? When did it happen?
The Hyotei men's team had also recovered from the shocking match. Mukai Taketo was the first to react, reaching out and patting Ozaki Yuushi on the shoulder. "Yuushi, what exactly does she like about you?"
Yuushi Oshizuka: “…”
Oshitari Yuushi: “???”
He almost laughed out loud. He also wanted to know the answer to this question... But the truth was, he didn't think Kurikawa Sana really liked him.
And judging from the tone of his voice, Yue Ren changed sides really quickly.
"Just after playing one game of ball, you've completely sided with her... Just because she's a great player?" Ozuki Yuushi sighed pretending to be sad.
Xiangri Yueren's face flushed again. "It's not just about being a good basketball player! She'll understand what I'm looking for... Forget it, you won't understand even if I tell you!"
Ozuki Yuushi was silent for a moment.
No, actually he does understand.
As a bystander and as a doubles partner who knows Taketo well, Oshizuka Yuushi also clearly understands why Taketo completely changed his opinion of her after one match, from having no good impression of her to having a very high liking for her.
——She will touch the heart directly.
She was not trying to cater to Yue Ren intentionally or to please him intentionally. She truly understood Yue Ren and resonated with him... Who could not be moved by that?
She was now completely different from the black-haired girl who had confessed to him with an expressionless face.
Back then, although she was still strikingly beautiful, her personality was completely different. When she confessed her feelings to him, her expression was cold and her words seemed to be just a chore, making it hard to believe that she was the same lively and lovely girl on the court today.
When did it start to change?
It probably started from the day she returned to Hyotei and was called to the student council president's office by Atobe.
He secretly observed and waited calmly until the day of the school dance, then he went up to her and asked her to dance with him.
That dance seemed to fill the air with a delicate fragrance. The girl, meticulously dressed, exuded overwhelming beauty, radiating with brilliance. Her melodious voice and graceful, effortless dance moves were all breathtaking.
——"No matter what, the one dancing with me now is Oshitari-kun, isn't it?"
Yuushi Oshitari lowered his eyes, and a light flashed in his round-frame glasses, perfectly concealing all the emotions in his eyes.
"It would be great if that girl was a boy," Shishido Ryo's voice suddenly rang out. "If she could join our team, we might be able to break Rikkai University's three-peat and win the national championship this year."
Hou Chotaro was completely shocked by his straightness, "Shishido-senpai, Kurikawa-senpai is a girl, how can you say that... If she hears it, she might hate you!"
Shishido Ryo: “…”
Hyotei's coach, Sakaki Taro, stood up and said in a stern voice, "Even before we meet Rikkai University, we shouldn't underestimate the opponents in the Tokyo Metropolitan Tournament. Are you so confident that you can beat Seigaku?"
Everyone's expressions immediately turned serious, "Of course, Coach!"
"The winner is Hyotei!"
Amidst the usual shouts, Atobe Keigo's eyes flashed.
Seigaku... is finally going to face Tezuka.
Come to think of it, that guy also confessed to Kunimitsu Tezuka and Fuji Shusuke of Seigaku.
When he thought of this, Keigo Atobe almost laughed out loud.
The previous game was so exciting that he almost forgot about that guy's "great achievements".
As a member of Hyotei and a good tennis player, she should come and watch the match between Hyotei and Seigaku.
…
*
Even after returning home, Kurikawa Sana still found it hard to believe that Atobe Keigo's favorability had soared so quickly.
Is it rising too fast? I only played one game and my friendship level is already 50...
System: [These young men's love for tennis cannot be described in a few words. It's perfectly normal for their amazing skills to lead to a rapid increase in their favorability.]
Kurikawa Sana nodded, "I understand."
System: [Hmm, what do you understand?]
Kurikawa Sana: "They like Federer."
system:【………】
As expected of her, her thinking is top-notch.
While her train of thought is unique, she never dwells on issues like the fact that her targets like system plug-ins rather than her... The only thing on her mind is health value.
The system said helplessly: [That's not entirely understandable... No matter how impressed I am by your skills, it wouldn't suddenly go from negative to positive 50. This must be due to your own contribution.]
In the system's view, Sana's appearance actually matched Atobe's gorgeous aesthetic. After the real her took over the body, her personality and behavior also became more and more in line with Atobe's aesthetic.
Therefore, the favorability that person had been deliberately suppressing suddenly surged out like a faucet opened.
But there was another thing he was curious about...
System: [Sanae, aren't you confused? ]
Kurikawa Sana looked up in confusion: "Huh? What are you worried about?"
System: [Their favorability increased due to the skills you exchanged. In all three worlds, the favorability gained from skills accounts for a significant proportion.]
Kurikawa Sana understood what the system meant.
The system was curious about whether she would feel ashamed, uneasy, or conflicted because her targets liked her because of abilities that did not belong to her.
Kurikawa Sana shook her head gently, "No, in the face of life, these emotions are insignificant."
Nothing is more important than life and health.
She was in imminent danger and time was running out, so this was the only thing she could do.
System: [As long as you can adjust it, Sana.]
The sadness only lasted for a second before Kurikawa Sana was distracted by the sudden vibration of her cell phone.
There were two text messages from an unknown number. Each of them contained only two short sentences, and the tone was very familiar.
[Kurikawa, come watch the match between Hyotei and Seigaku next week.]
【Come and see for yourself how I defeated Kunimitsu Tezuka. 】
Kurikawa Sana: "???"
Although there was no note, the phrase "this uncle" had already acted like a watermark, highlighting the identity of the visitor.
——It’s Atobe Keigo.
He was inviting her to watch the match between Hyotei and Seigaku.
"Hmm... why did you suddenly mention Tezuka Kunimitsu?" Kurikawa Sana looked confused and saved the other party's phone number with the note [Atobe-kun].
System: [Probably because we confessed our feelings to Tezuka Kunimitsu.]
Kurikawa Sana: "..."
"Stop, it was the system that confessed to Tezuka, not me." She rubbed her forehead helplessly, "Besides, I haven't met Tezuka-kun yet, and I don't know if my favorability rating will be negative..."
It seems I need to go back to Seigaku again. I need to get in touch with Tezuka-kun first to unlock his favorability before I can plan my next move. I'm also very interested in Seigaku's Echizen Ryoma-kun. I wonder if he's a hidden target.
But it would be strange to run to the campus of Seigaku again. If Fuji Shusuke saw me, my favorability points might be deducted again... What should I do?
Hmm? Wait a minute, judging from the two text messages from Atobe just now, it seems that this year's regional trials have already begun. So, can she go to watch Seigaku's game? There's nothing wrong with watching the game as a spectator, right?
As if she had suddenly found a clear path, Kurikawa Sana took out her mobile phone and began searching the schedule for this year's competition online.
"I see, the Tokyo Metropolitan Tournament is underway now... Wait, the next match is between Seigaku and Santa Academy. Isn't that the school where Fuji Yuta is? Speaking of which, if I want to regain Fuji Shusuke's favor, I have to untie the knot with Fuji Yuta."
Kurikawa Sana murmured as she looked at the schedule displayed on her phone, "And if Seigaku beats Santa Academy and advances, then we might face Yamabuki Junior High School, where Akutsu is! That's a whole bunch of potential targets! No way, I have to watch both of these games!"
system:【………】
System: [It's St. Rudolph's College...]
"Okay, okay, but it's strange that it doesn't show which match Hyotei will face Seigaku directly. According to this year's rules, Seigaku needs to defeat St. Rudolph's Academy and Yamabuki Junior High School consecutively to qualify. Then the tournament organizers will have the captains of each team draw lots, and only then will Seigaku and Hyotei have a chance to face off... How can Atobe-kun be so sure that Hyotei will face Seigaku next week?"
System: [It's likely because Atobe believes Tezuka's Seigaku will definitely advance. The two strongest schools in Tokyo are Hyotei and Seigaku, and he believes the two teams will definitely face off.]
"I see...it seems like there's some sympathy between Atobe-kun and Tezuka."
Kurikawa Sana glanced at her phone screen again and confirmed the time and location of the match. "What a coincidence! Tomorrow is the match between Seigaku and St. Rudolph. Let's go!"
The system felt relieved.
Finally got it right, the name of St. Rudolph's College.
However, Atobe specially invited someone to watch the game between Hyotei and Seigaku next week. As a result, someone was inspired by this and went directly to watch the two games of the rival schools first.
If the eldest young master knew this, he would probably be so angry that he would laugh again.
…
*
The next day.
Tokyo was also sunny today, with golden sunlight filtering through the blue sky, illuminating every inch of the competition field. The azure sky was as clear as a mirror. The sounds of players warming up, hitting balls and swinging their rackets, swayed gently with the wind and shadows, were full of energy and enthusiasm.
Kurikawa Sana stood quietly at the edge of the court, watching the brown-haired boy who was practicing.
[Is that Fuji Yuta? System.]
【Yes. 】
In the pre-match warm-up area, a young man with a crew cut was swinging his racket vigorously against the wall. He was wearing the St. Rudolph College tennis team uniform, and the brown and white uniform made his healthy tan even more prominent.
Unlike his brother's delicate and handsome appearance, Fuji Yuta's facial features are straight and resolute. His brows are always slightly furrowed, as if he is always unhappy. The cross scar on the upper right corner of his forehead adds a sharpness to his temperament.
With each harder hit, Fuji Yuta's brows furrowed deeper and deeper. Kurikawa Sana could feel his anxiety and uneasiness just by watching from the sidelines, and the eagerness was almost about to burst out of him.
At the end of the practice, as if he could no longer bear it, Yuta Fuji changed his return posture and took a special stance.
Kurikawa Sana was stunned for a moment.
...What is this posture?
Fuji Yuta leaned down in an extremely low posture, supporting himself with his right leg, with almost the entire center of his body placed on it. His left hand holding the racket was raised high, and the angle of his spine and shoulders was visibly unnatural.
But soon, Kurikawa Sana understood why he played in this posture.
With a "bang", the ball that Fuji Yuta hit out in this posture bounced up almost vertically after landing, hitting the wire mesh with a loud noise.
An amazing outswinging spin shot.
From this perspective, if such a smash is performed in actual combat, the ball will bounce vertically towards the opponent's face with great power and a very high chance of scoring.
But it causes great damage to the spine and bones.
When she was hospitalized in the hospital, there was a teenager in the ward next to Kurikawa Sana who needed surgery because his scoliosis reached an astonishing 100 degrees. The cause of his scoliosis was that he liked to play badminton in a similar posture to Fuji Yuta.
In other words, if he uses this posture to hit outward-spinning balls for a long time, Fuji Yuta is likely to end up like the boy in the ward next to her, especially since he is still in puberty and bone development.
"Um, Fuji-kun." Kurikawa Sana couldn't help but call out to him, "It's better not to play in this position."
“……!”
Hearing her voice, Fuji Yuta froze in place.
After several seconds, he turned around in surprise, his expression seeming to be unable to believe that she would appear here.
“Yes, it’s you…”
The moment he saw her, the boy's brows, which had been furrowed fiercely a second ago, relaxed, and his wheat-colored face flushed red.
"...Why are you here?"
"I came to watch the match between Seigaku and St. Rudolph." Kurikawa Sana answered quite honestly.
This sentence was like a calming agent. Fuji Yuta's flushed face recovered and his expression gradually turned back to a frown. "...I see, you are here to see my brother."
Kurikawa Sana was silent for a moment and thought that was not the case.
Not only did they come to see your brother, but they also came to see Kunimitsu Tezuka, Ryoma Echizen, and Akutsu tomorrow, so there were a little too many people.
"As expected, I shouldn't have thought of myself as special from the beginning. Everyone who approaches me is only because I'm Fuji Shusuke's younger brother."
Fuji Yuta gave a bitter smile, his voice hoarse, "The reason I fell in love with you was because of your opening words when we first met. You called me by my name, not Fuji Shusuke's younger brother."
Kurikawa Sana was stunned.
……ah?
Is this a confession? And wait, what kind of train of thought is this?
"Just because I called out your name when we first met, I fell in love with you?" Kurikawa Sana looked confused.
Fuji Yuta said softly, "Hmm," "No one can understand how important this is to me."
Just when Kurikawa Sana was thinking that she really couldn't understand it, a group of players wearing the emerald green uniforms of Yamabuki Junior High School passed by. They looked in their direction with surprised expressions and shouted -
"Look, that's Fuji Shusuke's younger brother!"
"Eh? Is that the genius Fuji Shusuke from Seigaku?"
"That's right! It's that Fuji!"
Just like an NPC completing a mission, after the Yamabuki Junior High School team passed by, another unknown team came and repeated the above conversation with a look of surprise on their faces.
"Look! The guy with the brown buzz cut is the younger brother of the genius Fuji Shusuke!"
"I see, it's Fuji Shusuke from Seigaku!"
Kurikawa Sana: "..."
No, that's enough. Hey, do you have some KPIs you have to meet? Like, you have to say "Look, that's Fuji Shusuke's brother" ten times when you walk by, but you can't say his name "Fuji Yuuta" no matter what?
And how many times are they going to cross-talk "Sei Gaku's Fuji Shusuke" and "genius Fuji Shusuke"? Help, no wonder Fuji Yuta is so PTSD-ed.
Fuji Yuta also heard their words. He said expressionlessly, "Listen, isn't that right?"
"The phrase I hate the most is 'So it's that genius Fuji's younger brother.'"
Kurikawa Sana: "…………"
Well, if that's the case, it's understandable.
"When I first met you, unlike anyone else, you called out my name accurately, Fuji Yuta."
At this point, Fuji Yuta's face turned slightly red again. He tilted his head and whispered: "...That's why I fell in love with you."
"You are one of the few people who can see me for who I am, beyond my identity as Fuji Shusuke's younger brother."
Kurikawa Sana opened her eyes wide in surprise.
[System.] She shouted in her mind.
System: [Hmm? What's wrong?]
Kurikawa Sana: [Fuji Yuta likes you. 】
system:【………】
???
What is she talking about?
Kurikawa Sana calmly continued her analysis: "At that time, I hadn't yet taken over the body, and Fuji Yuta didn't fall in love with me simply because of my appearance, but because of the way you called him 'Fuji Yuta'."
[So, the conclusion is, doesn't he just like you, the system? ——]
Kurikawa Sana continued to sigh: [System, you are still very charming, but next time don't deceive the hearts of innocent boys.]
system:【…………………】
He just called out Fuji Yuta's name very normally, simply because his name was Fuji Yuta. He had no idea that this name had such a strong meaning to him.
Wow, after she analyzed last time that Shiraishi liked him, she did it again this time and analyzed that Fuji Yuta liked him.
Very good analysis, don’t analyze it again next time.
What kind of magical train of thought does she have?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
