Chapter 156 Tennis 44
Tokyo in July is not too hot. The bright sunshine shines through the swaying leaves of the trees and the wire mesh beside the tennis court, leaving fine golden rays of light on the ground.
The crowds at this tournament were unprecedented. Even after the two doubles matches, both of which Rikkai University won, the audience erupted in commotion and cheers, startling the white pigeons perched on the lampposts.
If they lose one more game, Seigaku will lose.
Kurikawa Sana stood behind the barbed wire fence on the sidelines, looking up at the white doves flying across the sky, her mind beginning to drift away.
The last time I saw a white dove was during the match between Tezuka Kunimitsu and Atobe Keigo that shocked everyone.
After a long tie-break that lasted for hundreds of balls, Tezuka Kunimitsu's last ball hit the net and he lost the point. He raised his head to breathe, sweat dripped from his forehead, and white doves circled above the boy's head.
After that, Seigaku had been through many trials and tribulations, until today, when they finally reached the finals of the Kanto Tournament, where Seigaku was playing against Rikkai University. This was also the day when Yukimura Seiichi was to undergo surgery.
Tokyo has the best medical resources, so Yukimura finally decided to go to Tokyo for surgery. After the Rikkai University players finish the game, they will also go to the hospital to accompany Yukimura for the surgery.
——"If possible, could Kurikawa-san come with us?"
Yukimura asked her this not long ago.
——"My surgery will definitely be successful. I want Kurikawa-san to see hope for treatment."
Kurikawa Sana felt a warm current flowing through her heart, soothing her inner anxiety.
Yukimura-kun has always been concerned about her condition and has tried every possible way to persuade her not to give up.
If in the real world, she could have a good friend like Yukimura who always encouraged and accompanied her, perhaps she would have more courage to face everything.
"Puri, what's wrong with you today? You look so uninterested."
Niou Masaharu's voice was as frivolous as ever. Kurikawa Sana looked at him, a little surprised that he would take the initiative to come up to her and talk to her.
"Are you worried about Minister Yukimura?" asked Niou Masaharu.
Kurikawa Sana nodded, "But Yukimura-kun told us not to worry, he will be fine."
"That's right. After all, the Minister is the 'Son of God'."
Under normal circumstances, Kurikawa Sana might have complained internally, thinking that the title "Son of God" was too childish and embarrassing. But when it came to Yukimura Seiichi, that wasn't the case at all.
That man, dazzling, confident, resolute, and powerful - he fully deserves the title of Son of God.
"That's right." Kurikawa Sana nodded in approval.
“…”
Niou Masaharu observed her quietly, his eyes passing over the watch on her white wrist.
Sure enough, it is still hard to imagine that a girl who looks so lively and beautiful is actually suffering from a terminal illness, and the disease is so serious that she may die at any time.
Yukimura is not a person who likes to joke, and he would never play a prank of this level, so she is really seriously ill.
Before this, Niou Masaharu's biggest impression of Kurikawa Sana was that she was the only one he couldn't imitate. Because she was so beautiful that she couldn't be imitated, Niou Masaharu himself found it novel.
It was so difficult for him to imagine how such a dazzling person would fall down so suddenly.
Do the Hyotei people know about her situation? Niou Masaharu turned his gaze towards the Hyotei people not far away.
With the exception of Atobe, almost all of Hyotei's members were present. Although everyone at Hyotei occasionally looked towards Kurikawa Sana, Niou Masaharu didn't detect any trace of concern or sympathy. The same was true for everyone at Seigaku.
In conclusion, none of them knew about her physical condition, only he, Niou Masaharu and Minister Yukimura knew.
Niou Masaharu paused and reached out to press the phone in his pocket.
That's too much, Minister Yukimura.
He had inexplicably learned such serious, unknown information, which made him feel like he was in the same boat, with a sense of responsibility. Now, he subconsciously searched for her in the crowd, unable to help but pay attention to her and even worry about her, afraid that something might happen to her.
This feeling was so special that Niou Masaharu was sure he had never experienced it before.
Even the cell phone in his pocket was given to him by Yukimura before the surgery today.
Yukimura said that he has an app on his phone that is connected to Kurikawa Sana's watch. The cloud is connected to the heart rate data on her watch, so he can always observe her heart rate safety status.
No metal objects can be brought into the operating room, so before today's operation, Yukimura handed his mobile phone to him, the only one in the team who also knew about Kurikawa Sana's condition.
——"My surgery requires general anesthesia and takes a long time. I'm worried that she might have an accident during this time. Please help me take care of her, I'm counting on you, Niou."
This is what Minister Yukimura asked him at the time.
Niou Masaharu didn't know why Yukimura, who had just recently rejected Kurikawa Sana in front of the entire Rikkai University tennis club, was now so concerned about her. Their relationship had even evolved to the point where his phone was linked to her heart rate, a closeness that was difficult to describe.
Niou Masaharu didn't know why he took the phone, which was like a hot potato, so naturally and even spent the whole night charging it and looking at apps.
The phone screen showed that the girl's heart rate was sometimes lively and excited, sometimes slow and relaxed, and was most stable when she fell asleep at night.
Her sleep quality is quite good, Niou Masaharu thought.
After looking at the heart rate data on the screen, Kurikawa Sana's smile inexplicably appeared in his mind.
After realizing this, Niou Masaharu was stunned for a moment, as if he was burned by the square phone, and quickly put it back into his pocket.
But not long after, he took it out again and stared at the heart rate on the screen.
What if something happened to her during the time he wasn't looking at his phone? What would he do then? Wouldn't he be unable to fulfill even the smallest request from Minister Yukimura? How could that be?
It was just a short period of time. Once Yukimura finished the surgery and returned the phone to him, he wouldn't have to worry about it anymore.
Even before today's match against Seigaku, Niou Masaharu was still wondering what he'd do if he couldn't check his phone during his doubles match. He was confident that with his and Yagyu's strength, they could finish the match quickly, but what if something happened to her in that short time?
Just as he was frowning and thinking, a black-haired girl wearing Hyotei school uniform appeared at the competition scene.
Her long black hair flowed behind her like a waterfall, and her khaki uniform jacket and pleated skirt made her skin look translucent and white. Her face, with delicate features, was full of vitality, and it was obvious that she had a very good night's sleep.
OK, it seems the heart rate monitor is pretty accurate. In the end, he was the only one who didn't sleep well that night.
Niou Masaharu curled the corners of his mouth.
That was good. He no longer had to worry about not being able to see her phone screen or her heart rate. She was right in front of him, facing the court. If she showed any signs of discomfort, he would be the first to see it.
However, I didn't expect her to come to watch this game. Logically, today was not her school Hyotei's game, and Captain Yukimura would not play due to surgery. I thought she would not show up, but she actually showed up.
On the Seigaku side, Kunimitsu Tezuka is also going abroad for treatment due to an arm injury and will not play.
Then, there is only one reason left for her to appear.
Fuji Shusuke.
It is said that Fuji Shusuke, who rejected her confession just like Minister Yukimura, also set his sights on Kurikawa Sana.
Although Fuji concealed it well, he couldn't hide it from his eyes. The genius of Qingxue would occasionally look in the direction of the black-haired girl he had rejected before, whether intentionally or not.
Niou Masaharu thought without any expression.
Forget it, why think about all this. He only needed to complete Yukimura's instructions and make sure she didn't get sick again before he came out of surgery. He didn't need to pay too much attention to other things.
But when he won that doubles match, Niou Masaharu clenched his racket and suddenly found that he had the urge to play singles.
Want to play singles.
I want to meet the famous genius of Seigaku, Fuji Shusuke.
Unfortunately, Seigaku has no chance. Rikkai University will definitely win today. They will go to Yukimura's operating room with the first place trophy of the Kanto Tournament as the best gift to celebrate his successful exit from the operating room.
Rikkai University will not lose. Even without the presence of captain Seiichi Yukimura, Nioh Masaharu finds it hard to imagine how Rikkai University can lose to Seigaku. Today will definitely be a victory for Rikkai University.
This also means that Seigaku will stop here and will not be able to enter the national competition. He and Fuji Shusuke are both in their third year, and if they miss this opportunity, there will be no next chance for them to meet each other during their junior high school years.
What a pity.
…
Niou Masaharu's thoughts were in a whirlwind, at the same time, on the other side.
Kurikawa Sana, who was next to him, heard a "ding" sound.
[Niou Masaharu, Favorability +5.]
[Niou Masaharu, Favorability +6.]
[Niou Masaharu, Favorability +7.]
Kurikawa Sana: "???"
This is the first time I've seen this, and the feeling of seeing an arithmetic progression has increased my favorability. What happened?!
What happened to Niou-kun? She didn't seem to have done anything just now! She actually gained so much favorability!
She remembered the previous conversation, which stopped when she agreed with Niou that Yukimura was the "Son of God".
Could it be that Niou-kun was inspired by Yukimura-kun? So, just her agreement gave him so much favorability?
After thinking about it, it seems that this is the only reason? Otherwise, it is hard to imagine why Niwang, who has no connection with her, would suddenly gain so much favorability.
If Nioh was strongly recommended by Yukimura, then why not... continue praising Yukimura and try?
Kurikawa Sana was unsure and tried to speak: "Niou-kun."
Niou Masaharu turned to look at her, "Hmm?"
Kurikawa Sana started with zero frames, and suddenly said in an extremely pious tone: "The Son of God is a treasure in this world."
Niou Masaharu: “……?”
What's going on? Why is it suddenly so awkward?
Kurikawa Sana said seriously: "Everyone thinks that Yukimura-kun is called the Son of God because he has never lost any competition, but I think this is wrong."
Her expression was so pious that Niou Masaharu almost laughed out loud. "Well, what do you think, Kurikawa-san?"
Kurikawa Sana closed her eyes, basking in the sunlight, and spoke directly about what she had just been thinking: "Because, Yukimura-kun is dazzling, confident, resolute, and powerful. He is like the Son of God in the world, and he is worthy of the title of Son of God."
"Puff--Puff..."
Niou Masaharu could no longer hold it in. He turned around and lowered his head to look at what was in his hand. No one knew what he was holding, but he was laughing so hard that his shoulders were shaking.
Kurikawa Sana: "..."
Okay, the test is completed, and the favorability is not increased any further. Nioh is not recommended by Yukimura.
...This made her feel so embarrassed by the inexplicable flattery she just gave at zero frame, and she wanted to find a hole to hide in.
Just when Kurikawa Sana was about to say "But then again" to make amends, she saw Niou Masaharu turned around and touched her head with a smile.
"You."
"You're not shy at all when you compliment people, and your heart rate doesn't change at all, poof."
[Niou Masaharu, Favorability +8. ]
[Niou Masaharu's current total favorability: 60.]
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