Chapter 145 Tennis 33
On Friday evening after school, Kurikawa Sana appeared in Kanagawa again with a suitcase.
The Enoshima Electric Railway slowly passes by, and the whistle echoes long and loud, interweaving with the sound of waves gently lapping against the shore. The picture of Kanagawa is moist, fresh and comfortable.
Kurikawa Sana still finds it amazing.
The last time was when Yukimura Seiichi asked her on the beach in Kanagawa, "Is liking someone such a simple thing for you?"
At that time, Yukimura Seiichi was looking at her with a smile while madly deducting her favorability points, which caused her to faint immediately due to the pain. However, it was Yukimura who later sent her to the hospital.
but! --
Yukimura! He actually sent her a text message last night! Inviting her to come to Kanagawa again!
Moreover! He also! Increased favorability!
Last night, while eating at home in Tokyo, Kurikawa Sana suddenly heard a "ding" sound—[Yukimura Seiichi, Favorability +10.]
Combined with the previous -9 points of favorability, Yukimura's favorability is finally not negative!
[Yukimura Seiichi's current total favorability: 1.]
Kurikawa Sana: "..."
Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
The number 1 is kind of funny, it looks like she has a very hard life. But no matter what, after being in this world for so long, she finally has the right impression of all the potential targets!
Kurikawa Sana was very pleased, but she didn't quite understand why Yukimura would think of her from time to time. Some time ago, Yukimura suddenly increased his favorability by 9 points, which was puzzling.
But when she saw the sudden message on her phone, she reacted.
It turned out that Yukimura had actually sent her a text message some time ago! And she hadn't seen it yet, completely ignoring it!
She recalled the time, the last time Yukimura added 9 points of favorability, it was exactly when he sent that text message, but she didn't see it at all. Now that she thought about it, the time of this text message was the day she returned to Tokyo from Osaka USJ and met Akutsu Jin. Kurikawa Sana was deeply impressed by it.
Come to think of it, that night, Akutsu used her phone to enter her number. Could it be that Yukimura's text message came in at that moment, and Akutsu saw it was read, but didn't tell her? That's why she missed the message?
The more Kurikawa Sana thought about it, the more she felt that this was the case. Damn it, that guy Akutsu actually saw it and didn't tell her!
However, I don’t know if it was a coincidence, but Yukimura’s favorability increased even though his message was read but he didn’t reply.
I don't know what kind of mental journey he went through during this period. When the system actively pursued him before, he had negative favorability... Could it be that the Son of God likes to play it idle?
But no matter what, Kurikawa Sana's intuition told her that there was a limit to how much she could put on the show. If she hadn't replied to him last night, Yukimura would definitely not send any more messages.
So she replied quickly and arrived in Kanagawa in the evening after school the next day.
The air was mixed with the fresh salty smell of the sea breeze. Kurikawa Sana took a deep breath. Her mood was completely different from the heavy mood she felt the last time she came to Kanagawa.
So what's next...
Let’s go to Rikkai University again after a long absence!
…
*
The Rikkai University campus is neatly constructed, with red walls and tiles, and majestic teaching buildings, as if telling the story of the school's long and glorious history, living up to the name "King Rikkai".
Kurikawa Sana stopped immediately when she saw the young man's figure not far away.
The school bell rang, and the setting sun shone through the gaps in the leaves of the sycamore tree, casting mottled light and shadows, illuminating the young man under the tree and dyeing his iris-colored hair red.
Yukimura-kun?
Kurikawa Sana looked at it again uncertainly.
"You're here, Kurikawa-san."
The boy smiled at her, and the moment his delicate and perfect face smiled, it seemed as if everything around him lit up.
"Long time no see." He took the initiative to walk towards her.
Kurikawa Sana stuttered, which was rare for her, "Hello, long time no see, Yukimura-kun..."
Wow, no matter how many times I see Yukimura-kun, I will still be shocked by his looks!
"Why did you suddenly come to Rikkai University?" asked Seiichi Yukimura.
"Eh? Because you asked me to come to Kanagawa again last night, and I thought Yukimura-kun would still be in school at this time, so I came here..."
Kurikawa Sana carefully assessed the other person's expression, fearing that her favorability would be deducted. "Was my sudden visit to the school too offensive?"
Hearing her answer, a hint of surprise flashed across Yukimura Seiichi's deep blue eyes, but it quickly faded away like flowing water. He smiled and said, "No, how could it be offensive? Kurikawa-san should come to Rikkai University more often when he has time."
Kurikawa Sana was surprised and continued to be flattered: "!! Ok, Ok!"
But in addition to being flattered, she also inexplicably felt a sense of discomfiture.
It's strange, but I can't tell what's strange about it.
Would Yukimura really say something so enthusiastic? And if he was so enthusiastic, why didn't I hear the notification sound for increasing his favorability?
Or was it because she didn't know Yukimura's character well enough? Just like last night, she couldn't imagine that Yukimura would actually take the initiative to text her.
"What's wrong? Kurikawa-san is looking at me like that." Yukimura Seiichi looked at her with a smile.
"Hmm... is this an illusion?" Kurikawa Sana murmured to herself, "It just feels a little... not quite like Yukimura-kun?"
Yukimura Seiichi raised an eyebrow in surprise, "Oh? How is it different?"
Kurikawa Sana touched the back of her head awkwardly: "Haha, Yukimura-kun wouldn't smile so happily at me."
“………”
After a moment of silence.
The boy's shoulders shook with laughter, and he couldn't help but raise his hand to cover his mouth, "...Pfft."
Kurikawa Sana: "???"
Hmm? Did Yukimura just make some strange laugh? Yukimura-kun is really acting strangely today.
But soon, she knew what was strange.
"Kurikawa-san, you are really interesting." While praising her, Yukimura Seiichi smiled and brushed away the fallen leaves on her head.
At the same time, there was a "ding" sound.
[Niou Masaharu, Favorability +4. ]
[The hidden target, Niou Masaharu, has been unlocked for you.]
【Niou Masaharu】
Playing style: All-around player
School: Rikkai University Affiliated Junior High School (Grade 3, Group B, No. 14)
Height: Currently 176cm
Weight: Currently 60KG
Birthday: December 4th
Zodiac sign: Sagittarius
Blood type: AB
Five-dimensional abilities: Speed 3, Strength 2, Stamina 3, Technique 5, Mental Strength 5
Hobbies: Darts, sewing, shooting, shooting games, jazz music
Favorite food: BBQ
Special Skills: Nioh Phantom (imitate others), Synchronize (perfectly synchronize with others in doubles), Super Dynamic Vision, Meteor Hammer Strike, Ability Resonance (to be unlocked...)
[Niou Masaharu's current total favorability: 28.]
…
Kurikawa Sana: "…………"
Good heavens, it turns out that the sense of incongruity she just felt was not an illusion.
So after all this time, it turns out that the "Yukimura Seiichi" standing in front of her is not Yukimura Seiichi himself!
She seemed to have some impression of Niou Masaharu, a regular on the Rikkai University tennis team. She seemed to have seen him the last time she visited Rikkai University to look for Yukimura. His hair was silvery-white with a hint of blue, and he had a very memorable pigtail hairstyle.
No wonder the other party asked her why she suddenly came to Rikkai University. If it was the real Yukimura, he would not be unaware of her arrival today.
But how did he do that?! Makeup? Cosplay? It looks so realistic, and he looks exactly like Yukimura Seiichi. But it doesn't make sense. How could he replicate it so perfectly?
It seems that the only explanation could be the "Nioh Phantom" in the column of Nioh Masaharu's signature skills.
It is so powerful that in Kurikawa Sana's opinion, it has almost reached the level of superpowers.
Unable to suppress her strong curiosity, Kurikawa Sana couldn't help but reach out and poke the other person's cheek, wanting to see if there were any traces of makeup or mask.
Yukimura Seiichi, no, it should be said that Niou Masaharu was visibly stunned for a moment.
Kurikawa Sana muttered, "It looks so real, it looks exactly like Yukimura-kun, how did they do that?"
Niou Masaharu's pupils shrank, "Did you find out?"
"Yeah." Kurikawa Sana nodded quickly.
“……!”
He looked very surprised, and after a moment's silence, the boy who looked like "Yukimura Seiichi" turned around.
When he turned around again, Kurikawa Sana was shocked to find that the person in front of him had changed his appearance again.
Kurikawa Sana: "!!!"
I'm shocked, is this the legendary magic trick?!
She clearly didn't look away, but the boy in front of her changed in an instant - from Yukimura Seiichi to Niou Masaharu.
The boy had fluffy silver-white hair and a thin braid on the side of his neck. He had a handsome face with a hint of evil.
His double eyelids were very wide and deep, and his pair of emerald green eyes were filled with a smile with a teasing look. A mole was particularly prominent under the corner of his curved mouth.
Kurikawa Sana was stunned.
How on earth did they do this?! This really is a superpower!
Niou Masaharu leaned against a tree on campus with his arms folded and asked casually, "How did you find out? This is the first time someone has seen through my imitation so quickly."
If one is not extremely familiar with the personality and habits of the person being imitated, his imitation will be difficult to see through.
Or did she already understand Yukimura to this extent? Knowing that he was not Yukimura himself, Niou Masaharu silently looked at the black-haired girl.
But the black-haired girl in front of him just touched the back of her head and let out a silly laugh.
"Haha, no. Didn't I just say that? If it was the real Yukimura-kun, he wouldn't be smiling so happily at me. He gets a headache just by looking at me."
Niou Masaharu: “…”
She sounds like she has a miserable life.
Moreover, she seemed to have some misunderstanding about Yukimura's attitude towards her.
"Pfft...you're really interesting."
Niou Masaharu's voice is much deeper than Yukimura Seiichi's, and it has a completely different style.
Kurikawa Sana was even more curious. How did he manage to imitate other people's voices so perfectly? Was it a voice changer?
"So why did you pretend to be Yukimura-kun?"
"Practice, to improve my imitation. The regular players on the team are all my role models." Niou Masaharu curled his lips and looked at her. "You just happened to see me when I was imitating our captain. What a coincidence."
Kurikawa Sana couldn't help but ask curiously: "Will you imitate other people?"
Niou Masaharu: “Of course.”
As soon as he finished speaking, he turned into the appearance of Genichirō Sanada.
With a "whoosh", the boy in front of him grew taller and stronger in a second, his skin color instantly turned darker, his face became dignified and mature, beyond the scope of a junior high school student, and even the baseball cap on his head suddenly appeared from nowhere.
His mouth opened and closed, and Sanada Genichirō's voice, so deep it didn't sound like a middle school student's, burst out: "Too lax!"
Kurikawa Sana's mouth opened into an O shape.
She could only marvel.
Help! She was clearly concentrating and hadn't even blinked, but he still changed in a second. It was amazing!
Superpower, this is definitely a superpower!
"How did they do that? How did they make up for the difference in height and size?" Witnessing superpowers for the first time, Kurikawa Sana couldn't hide her excitement. "And the voice, the voice too..."
Niou Masaharu changed back to his normal self. The boy raised a finger and gently covered his lips with it, smiling mysteriously and saying, "It's a secret."
Kurikawa Sana: TVT
It's really frustrating to arouse people's curiosity and then put others in play... She seemed to suddenly understand how Yukimura felt after being put in play after his message was read but not replied.
system:【………】
The system couldn't help but grumble: "It's true that Nioh's mimicry ability is somewhat exaggerated, but it's not that exaggerated, right? You can create a black hole with a tennis racket, so a cross-dressing imitation shouldn't be that unacceptable, right?"
Kurikawa Sana: "..."
I almost forgot that in this tennis world, you can create black holes with your hands.
Kurikawa Sana: [You have a point, System.]
When he looked up, Niou Masaharu had transformed from Sanada Genichirō back into his own self, his handsome face a half-smile. "Are you satisfied with what you see?"
It was just a little meme, but as soon as he finished speaking, Niou Masaharu was almost shocked by himself, but the black-haired girl in front of him nodded vigorously with starry eyes, "Satisfied, satisfied, very good, Niou-kun! This is the first time I've seen such an amazing imitation show!"
Niou Masaharu was slightly stunned.
"That's truly amazing! Every single one of his imitations is flawless. Niou-kun must have put a lot of hard work into it, right? It's truly remarkable!"
The girl's voice was light, crisp and sweet, like a ray of bright light that suddenly appeared, dispelling the haze wherever it went. Her beautiful blue eyes were like gemstones, sparkling and shining.
[Niou Masaharu, Favorability +5.]
Niou Masaharu stared at the blue color quietly for a long time.
Until another voice sounded.
"Nioh."
A young man with purple hair walked out from behind the tree. As always, he wore the khaki team jacket of Rikkai University draped over his shoulders, which swayed gently in the wind. His face was exquisite and handsome under the light green sweatband on his forehead.
It's really Yukimura Seiichi.
“……!”
Kurikawa Sana shuddered all over and felt like standing at attention for a moment.
There was no way. Yukimura had deducted her favorability points so harshly before that she was inexplicably afraid of him.
Yukimura Seiichi walked up to them and his eyes fell on Niou Masaharu, "Is it fun?"
The boy's eyes and tone were cold and indifferent, and it was impossible to tell whether he was happy or angry.
Niou Masaharu shrugged, "Not bad."
Yukimura Seiichi's eyes flickered slightly, and he stopped questioning Niou and turned his gaze to the black-haired girl beside him. His voice became a little gentler: "I'm sorry to have caused trouble to you, Kurikawa-san. My teammates have embarrassed you."
Kurikawa Sana: "???"
Eh? Why is it so troublesome? Niou-kun is pretty good, with a 28-point favorability right from the start.
By the way, when I first met Yukimura, his favorability was 28 points - but it was negative, haha.
Kurikawa Sana quickly waved her hands, "No, no, Niou-kun is amazing! It's so fun, why would it be troublesome?"
Yukimura Seiichi: "Really? That's good."
Niou Masaharu watched with interest the polite yet distant way the two communicated.
"I thought you wouldn't come to Kanagawa until tomorrow," Yukimura Seiichi said. "So, see you at Tsuchiya General Hospital tomorrow morning at 8 o'clock?"
Kurikawa Sana was stunned for a moment.
Upon hearing this, Niou Masaharu glanced over with a calm gaze.
Hospital? Why did they have to go to the hospital?
And if he remembered correctly, Tsuchiya General Hospital was the hospital where Yukimura usually went for follow-up visits, so did she come here specifically to accompany Yukimura to the hospital for a follow-up visit?
Her relationship with Yukimura is so confusing that it's hard not to be interested.
These two people, seemingly so distant and unfamiliar, seemed to have a relationship that others were unaware of and unable to interfere with. Niou Masaharu raised an eyebrow.
On the other hand, Kurikawa Sana was feeling a little scared.
When she agreed to come to Kanagawa with Yukimura last night, she just wanted to see him, and she intuitively felt that if she didn't agree, Yukimura's strategy would really come to an end here. But when she really had to go to the hospital again while awake, she was still a little scared.
The painful and lonely time she spent alone in the hospital was so terrible that even setting foot in another hospital would bring back those days.
In the previous volleyball world, Sakuhaya Seiomi also tried to take her to get a flu shot suddenly. As soon as she entered the clinic and saw the doctor's needle, her face turned pale and her body trembled uncontrollably.
At that time, Sakuhaya Seiomi saw her fear and finally took her away. However, Sakuhaya's pity was based on the fact that he had a 90-point favorability rating at the time. Kurikawa Sana didn't think Yukimura Seiichi, whose favorability rating was only "1", would have the same feelings for her.
And just as she guessed, the reason why Yukimura invited her to Kanagawa for the first time was because he knew about her condition and wanted her to cooperate with the doctor's treatment, and he had no other intentions.
Coming from Tokyo, Shiraishi Kuranosuke would seize every moment to show her around Osaka. Yukimura, on the other hand, didn't care how she spent the night in Kanagawa, but simply agreed to meet her at the hospital early the next morning. This was the difference between high and low affection.
Hospital... She was still afraid of hospitals.
So Kurikawa Sana could only force a smile and said, "Okay, see you tomorrow, Yukimura-kun."
As soon as she finished speaking, she left as if escaping, leaving behind only a slender and fragile figure.
“………”
Yukimura Seiichi was silent for a moment.
He just saw that the girl's face suddenly turned pale when she heard the word hospital.
As he had guessed, she knew her physical condition, but she was afraid of the treatment process and was reluctant to see a doctor.
To some extent, Yukimura Seiichi could understand her. His own recovery process was also quite difficult, and no one would be willing to take the initiative to endure such pain.
But even if he had to choose ten thousand times, he would still try his best to cooperate with the treatment. Her condition was more serious and more dangerous than his, so how could he give up so easily?
Also, one more thing...
Yukimura Seiichi looked up at Niou Masaharu and cut straight to the chase: "Niou, are you actively approaching her? Why?"
Niou Masaharu smiled and said, "Because she is very interesting."
"What's interesting specifically?"
"She's the first person I've never been able to imitate." Niou Masaharu put away his cynical expression and turned serious. "I can imitate anyone 100%. But she's the only one I've wanted to imitate since the first time I saw her, Kurikawa Sana, but I found I couldn't."
Even Yukimura Seiichi was a little surprised when these words were spoken.
The entire Rikkai University community knew just how powerful Niou's mimicry was. His uncanny "Niou Phantom" not only replicated his opponent's appearance, voice, body shape, and features, but also nearly perfectly replicated their basketball skills. Even Yukimura Seiichi found this skill outrageous, rivaling his "Five Senses Destruction" ability.
But now, Niwang said that there is something that he cannot imitate?
"Why can't you do it?" asked Yukimura Seiichi.
"Who knows? Maybe she is just too beautiful. I have never seen anyone who looks like that. No matter what I do, I can't restore her 100%. " Niou Masaharu said lightly.
Yukimura Seiichi: "..."
After a brief silence, Yukimura Seiichi found that even he had to admit that what Nioh said made some sense.
"This is the first time I've met someone so challenging. It's interesting, isn't it, Minister?"
Yukimura Seiichi said "hmm" lightly, then changed the subject and said, "Niou, you'd better not get close to her."
When Niou Masaharu heard this, a hint of surprise flashed across his emerald eyes. "Oh? What's wrong? Don't you dislike her? Why are you preventing others from approaching her?"
He doesn't like someone, but he doesn't allow others to get close to him. Isn't the possessiveness of the Son of God a little too strong?
Yukimura Seiichi gazed at the scenery in front of him with a calm expression. His deep blue pupils reflected the calm lake on the Rikkai University campus.
"Nio, I'm asking you not to come near me for your own good."
"How do you say that?"
As the sky grew darker, the evening breeze blew across the lake, bringing a slight coolness.
After an unknown amount of time, Yukimura Seiichi finally spoke slowly, "Her heart has a serious defect, potentially fatal at any time. If you get close to her and develop too deep feelings for her, you'll be the one who suffers in the end."
“………”
Niou Masaharu couldn't help but be stunned.
The girl's energetic appearance just now seemed to be right in front of him. For a moment, he found it a little difficult to connect Kurikawa Sana with the situation where "she might die at any time"... How could this be possible?
The wind blowing through the Rikkai University campus became stronger, and the calm surface of the artificial lake was stirred up, just like the people by the lake whose hearts suddenly became equally restless at this moment.
"Her illness is her private matter, and I shouldn't have disclosed it. But I know your character, Ino. You're not the type to publicize someone else's private matters."
Yukimura Seiichi glanced at him and said, "I'm just giving you a friendly reminder. If you're approaching her just to tease her or have fun, then I advise you not to. Her body is already in great shape, and she doesn't have the luxury of dealing with the tricks of the 'Trickster'."
"The Trickster" is Niou Masaharu's nickname.
He is known as "the most terrifying fraudster on the court" and is a court con man who plays his opponents around in circles.
The two stood facing each other, both silent for a long time.
"...This is truly unexpected information that even I'm surprised by," Niou Masaharu said. "But don't worry, Captain. I just like to trick my opponents on the court. I wouldn't do that in real life."
"Um."
"But I'll still stay close to her."
“……?”
Seeing Yukimura Seiichi's sudden frown, Niou Masaharu said slowly, "Since the director also said that her time is precious, shouldn't we seize every moment to spend with her?"
Otherwise, if you miss such an amazing person, you will never see him again.
“………”
Yukimura Seiichi was silent.
As expected of a con man, he could easily sway people with just a few words.
"So, you are going to the hospital with her tomorrow not because you need a follow-up visit, but because she needs to see a doctor?" Niou Masaharu continued to ask.
"Well, the hospital's examination showed that her health was in danger, but she refused to receive proper treatment, so I invited her to come to Kanagawa to see a doctor."
Niou Masaharu paused.
She really does listen to Minister Yukimura.
"Okay, I'll be going back first. Buchou, take care of yourself too. The Kanto Tournament is coming soon."
"…Um."
…
*
After Yukimura Seiichi returned home and had dinner, he looked up and saw that the clock on the wall showed that it was eight o'clock in the evening.
He couldn't help but pause.
The words that Niou had just spoken seemed to still echo in his ears.
——[Her time is precious, so shouldn't we make every moment count to spend with her?]
Speaking of which, she came to Kanagawa alone, not knowing where to stay or how to spend the long nights.
A picture seemed to appear in front of my eyes. The girl was huddled up with a pale face, alone in the hotel, waiting fearfully for going to the hospital tomorrow.
“…”
Stop, when did he start imagining this kind of inexplicable thing? Yukimura Seiichi pressed his forehead helplessly.
However, after all, it was he who took the initiative to invite her to Kanagawa...it seemed reasonable to ask about it.
Thinking of this, he took out his cell phone, edited the text message and sent it.
[Kurikawa, have you rested? ]
This time, the other party didn't reply until a few minutes later.
【Not yet~ ＼(*T▽T*)／ 】
It was the same cute emoticons, but this time the message the girl sent gave the impression of a forced smile.
There is still time.
Glancing at the clock on the wall again, Yukimura Seiichi continued—
[So, are you going out to see the Wind Chime Festival? ]
【Kanagawa's summer wind chime festival is very famous.】
Soon, the girl's message came back.
[Okay, okay, then where shall we meet?]
He replied: [See you at Kawagoe Station at 8:30?]
【good! 】
Looking at the last few messages, Yukimura Seiichi actually sensed a sense of both parties agreeing on a time and place before a date.
“………”
No, it's just an illusion.
Yukimura Seiichi thought as he stood up and picked out clothes to go out in the huge wardrobe.
This was just a normal courtesy after he invited the other party to come to a foreign place from Tokyo, and it was definitely not a date.
…
*
Half an hour later.
2-chome, Kawagoe Miyashita-machi, Kanagawa.
At half past eight, Seiichi Yukimura arrived at the agreed location on time.
In the summer evening breeze, the sound of wind chimes tinkled, crisp and melodious. A dazzling array of wind chimes, tied with colorful ribbons, shone a vibrant light in the evening lights. The laughter and chatter of the crowd blended with the chimes' melody, creating a warm melody.
The girl passed through the colorful wind chimes and ran towards him with a bright smile.
Her long black hair fluttered behind her, and the colorful lights fell on her face, illuminating her incredibly delicate and beautiful features.
Niou said that she was the only being who could not be imitated, because she was too beautiful to be imitated, which seemed to become completely understandable at this moment.
"Yukimura-kun——"
The girl called out his name with a smile, ran in his direction, and then stopped in front of him.
It seemed as if it was for him from the very beginning.
Yukimura Seiichi slowly lowered his eyes and heard her say——
"Sorry for the wait."
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