Chapter 154 Tennis 42
"You look very angry, Atobe."
In a high-end fashion store in Ginza, Yuushi Oshizuka was casually selecting the new season's styles while his shoulders couldn't help shaking. "When I think of your expression just now, it's hard not to laugh out loud."
Especially when he knew that Kurikawa Sana and Shiraishi Kuranosuke were already calling each other by name, the expression on Atobe's face was so wonderful, even more colorful than the floral shirt he was wearing.
“………”
Atobe Keigo's face turned pale again.
"Inuzuka, you'd better make sure you're always just a spectator."
"Don't worry about that. I've always been the most rational person." Ozuki Yuushi stopped laughing and looked at him. "Otherwise, why would I notify you to come over the first time I saw her?"
"Does your calmness and rationality come from your ability to control yourself, or do you really not care about her from the beginning?" Atobe Keigo stared at her intently. "If it's the former, then there's no need for that."
"If you're deliberately giving up because you know I like her, then there's absolutely no need. I won't lose to anyone."
Yuushi Oshitari paused in choosing clothes.
The pause was only one second, so short that it was almost negligible, but it still could not escape Keigo Atobe's sharp insight.
"You're overthinking it, Atobe." Oshitari Yuushi sighed and returned to normal. "I just made the most reasonable judgment. My intuition and reason tell me that it's best not to get close to her, otherwise it will become very troublesome."
"Really?"
"Um."
"Speaking of which, what do you think, Atobe?" Oshitari Yuushi changed the subject: "She did this, and you didn't stop her?"
He clearly liked her, yet he could tolerate her continuing to have contact with other people. It was hard to imagine that someone as proud as Atobe could accept such a thing.
Just like at this moment, Kurikawa Sana is still walking with Shiraishi Kuranosuke, and Atobe actually allows her to do so.
"I asked her this question before, and she said she had reasons for doing so."
“…Why do I have to do this?”
"Yeah, but she comes from a wealthy family, so it doesn't seem like anyone is forcing her to do this."
Oshitari Yuushi pondered for a moment, "Is it a psychological problem? Pathological emotional problems are what caused her to lose control of her behavior."
"It's not clear yet."
Atobe Keigo stood up and looked at the streets of Ginza outside the floor-to-ceiling glass windows. His dark pupils reflected the bustling scenery of Tokyo.
"But no matter what the problem is, I will be by her side and help her solve it."
“…”
Under the plain glasses, a barely perceptible surprise flashed across Yuushi Ozuki's eyes.
How much do you like this?
Atobe, he seems to be serious.
Although Tobe's style of doing things is flamboyant, he never goes back on his word and will never make a promise that he cannot fulfill.
Yuushi Oshizuka raised his hand to support the frame of his glasses on his nose, but his mind was deepened with a realization—
Sure enough, his judgment was correct.
Need to stay away from her, away from Kurikawa Sana.
Even a proud being like Atobe was conquered just by getting close.
If he wanted to maintain his current high-handed, calm and rational state of watching the fire from the other side of the river, he had to keep his distance from her.
He will definitely be the only one among everyone who remains calm and composed as always.
This is what Ozuki Yuushi thought.
…
*
On the other side, Shiraishi Kuranosuke had just sent Kurikawa Sana back to the downstairs of her house. The girl stopped and looked as if she wanted to say something but stopped.
"You really don't want me to take you to the station? I feel really bad about that. Last time in Osaka, you accompanied me the whole way..."
Shiraishi Kuranosuke smiled and said, "Really, there's no need. If you send me to the station and come back at this late hour, I'll be worried."
Now Kurikawa Sana felt even more ashamed.
Ever since she was caught by Echizen Ryoma and Atobe Keigo in the restaurant today, she has been terrified and worried about when something might go wrong. The tense atmosphere at the scene would make anyone feel that something was wrong.
But after that, Shiraishi Kuranosuke never asked her a single question.
Kurikawa Sana lowered her head and twisted the hem of her skirt with her fingers, "Kuranosuke-kun."
"Um?"
"…Kuranosuke-kun, aren't you going to ask me what's going on? What happened in the restaurant today?"
Shiraishi Kuranosuke was stunned for a moment, then he touched the back of his head and smiled, "Because I feel that if I ask you, you will be very troubled, so I won't ask."
"Rather than wanting to know the answer to the question, I want you not to be sad."
Kurikawa Sana's azure eyes slowly widened.
…This person is really great.
So good that for the first time she hoped the other party wouldn't find out what she had done.
Although she has always complained about the system's awkward operation at the beginning of the tennis world, which dragged her down, but when she thought about it carefully, even if the system did not do that, she would have to wander and flirt with the possible targets sooner or later. There is actually no difference in essence.
And so far, Shiraishi Kuranosuke is the only one who is still unaware of her "emotional problems".
The sudden appearance of Echizen Ryoma and Atobe Keigo today probably made Shiraishi Kuranosuke guess that they had a close relationship with her. But he never imagined that she had confessed to "many people" but not to him.
“…I’m sorry.” Kurikawa Sana said softly.
"Eh? Why are you apologizing all of a sudden?" Shiraishi Kuranosuke stopped abruptly. "Is it because of the restaurant?"
Kurikawa Sana nodded slightly, then shook her head.
Yes, but not only that.
"Why should you apologize? This isn't your fault." Shiraishi Kuranosuke said softly, "Besides, I don't feel offended. At most, I was just a little surprised."
"Besides, I'm also looking forward to playing against them in the national competition, hahaha. Especially that Echizen-kun, I have a feeling he'll get along well with Xiao Jin from our team."
The boy laughed heartily, and changed the subject in a relaxed tone, "By the way, our Shitenhoji team will definitely make it to the nationals. We'll see you in Tokyo again during the national competition."
National competition...will she still be there then?
Her physical condition in the real world is worsening, and she doesn't have much time left. Kurikawa Sana herself is not sure the answer to this question.
If possible, she also wanted to see the end of their national competition.
Kurikawa Sana nodded gently, "Good luck, see you next time, Kuranosuke-kun."
The smile on Shiraishi Kuranosuke's handsome face widened a little. He raised his arm which was bound by white bandages and gently stroked the girl's head.
"See you next time, Sana."
…
*
That night, in front of the entrance of Tokyo Station.
Shiraishi Kuranosuke failed to catch the originally scheduled train back to Osaka. He paused and was about to go into the station to change his ticket when he heard the sound of a car roaring behind him.
A shockingly expensive black Bosu MPV pulled up on the curb behind him. Shiraishi Kuranosuke turned around, and the window slowly rolled down. The expensive, luxurious interior of the business car and the face of a young man with short, middle-parted purple-gray hair and sunglasses appeared before him.
It was Captain Hyotei, Keigo Atobe, whom I met in the restaurant today.
At this time and place, there is no reason for me to pass by here and stop for no reason.
Are you here to see him?
Shiraishi Kuranosuke was silent for a moment, and the other party spoke first: "Can't catch the bus back to Osaka? I can ask the driver to take you back."
Shiraishi Kuranosuke: “…”
Is this Atobe-kun's tone always like this? It's really hard to bear.
He came here just to say this?
Shiraishi Kuranosuke smiled and said, "Thanks, but no need. I can go back by myself."
"Oh? Really?" Atobe Keigo said slowly, "I wanted to talk to you about her, but I'm afraid you won't be able to catch the last train tonight."
"...The one you're talking about is Sana?"
"Who else could it be?" The door of the business car slid open to the left, and Atobe Keigo stepped out with one hand in his pocket. He tilted his head and said to the driver, "Okabe, go park the car first. I'll pick you up later."
"Yes, young master." The driver in the cab responded and the car slowly drove away.
Atobe Keigo stopped sitting in the car and looked at Shiraishi Kuranosuke on an equal footing.
Shiraishi Kuranosuke's expression also faded, "Atobe-kun, what do you want to say?"
"You probably don't know a lot about her." Atobe Keigo raised his hand to take off his sunglasses, his dark, upturned eyes sharp. "She has confessed to many people, including me, Tezuka from Seigaku, Fuji, and Yukimura from Rikkai University."
“……!”
Shiraishi Kuranosuke clenched his fists tightly and his pupils suddenly contracted at the sudden shocking and astonishing information.
Seeing his reaction, Atobe Keigo curled his lips and said, "I guessed right, you really don't know."
I don’t know whether Bai Shi is lucky or unlucky. She has never confessed to him.
Through Yuushi Oshitani's connections at Shitenhoji Temple in Osaka, that is, his cousin Kenya Oshitani, Keigo Atobe knew that Sana Kurikawa had only asked for Kuranosuke Shiraishi's contact information and had never confessed to him.
She had confessed so simply and frivolously to so many people, but not to Shiraishi Kuranosuke. Wasn't this also a special existence? Thinking of this, Atobe Keigo's eyes darkened.
"So," Shiraishi Kuranosuke closed his eyes, "What exactly do you want to say, Atobe-kun?"
"Don't get me wrong, I don't mean to ruin her image in front of you. If she were really a bad person, I wouldn't be obsessed with her."
When he said the last sentence, there was even a hint of smile in Atobe Keigo's voice.
Shiraishi Kuranosuke's expression changed slightly.
His feeling during the day today turned out to be correct. The eldest son of the Atobe Group was indeed secretly in love with Sana.
No, based on Atobe-kun's personality, it is definitely not a secret love but an open love.
Compared to the still rather immature Echizen Ryoma-kun from Seigaku, this Atobe-kun is more dangerous in every aspect.
He said... he was obsessed with Sana.
Shiraishi Kuranosuke waited silently for Keigo Atobe's next words.
"Your reaction was quite good. You didn't back down because of appearances. You are worthy of being my opponent."
Atobe Keigo was also observing him, his eyes calm and composed: "But no matter who my opponent is, I will not lose."
"Okay, I've finished what I wanted to say."
"Now, you can go back to Osaka."
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