Chapter 20: Ramen is in focus, but in the back, there is only the smell of food in the eyes...
Physics class was truly incomprehensible—Yuhara Kaoru resigned herself to studying with her physics teacher for the entire afternoon. Every time she felt sleepy, she'd see the near-retirement teacher, his thinning hair, so energetic and eager to pour all the knowledge into her head, and a sense of guilt would propel her through the lecture.
"Ms. Jieyuan," the physics teacher said after reviewing the test she had given her, pointing to a few wrong answers. "Everything in the world is in motion; nothing is permanently still... In other words, motion is absolute, and stillness is relative..."
"I know! Thank you, teacher!" After finally understanding the questions, Yuihara Kaoru stood up and thanked the teacher while holding the test paper.
The teacher picked up the open cup of water with one hand and took a swig, then waved his other hand casually. After a moment's pause, he said, "Learn more from Sakurai-san! Your future is full of possibilities—don't narrow your options by focusing on one subject too early."
"Good!" The physics teacher...is also a very nice person.
After leaving the office, Yuihara Kaoru went to the bathroom to wash her face. When she looked up, her eyes in the mirror became firm, and she looked directly at herself with water still dripping on her face.
"The future holds endless possibilities..."
The words of her physics teacher lingered in her ears, but where would her future go?
Still full of doubts, Yuihara Xiangcheng did not return to the classroom, but went to the physical education group to find their physical education teacher and sincerely explained her purpose.
"What a... persistent and scary child." The physical education teacher watched her leave from the window and sighed to his colleagues.
"Misaki-san, will you consider Director Tanaka's suggestion? After all, you were a volleyball major in college."
Teacher Misaki, who was over sixty but still looked energetic with short black hair, laughed heartily. "If it's a child like that, it's not impossible to consider it... I have to watch a few more games."
In the afternoon physical education class, according to the schedule for this semester, the first-year high school students were still training for track and field events - except for Yuihara Xiangcheng.
When the class representative called her name, Teacher Misaki said, "Don't worry about her anymore. She has already applied for an early exam."
Yukimura and Sakurai Rika immediately looked in Kaoru's direction. She had her head down, expressionless, as if waiting for the teacher to dismiss her.
Yukimura and Rika were carrying out activities with their respective teams, and could only see Yuihara Kaoru disappearing around the corner of the playground.
If... she could have used a better method, without getting injured or leaving the court, she would have had more chances to win the game. Volleyball is a six-player game, but if she was strong enough, how could she not have changed the outcome?
Facing the beige gymnasium wall in front of him, Yuihara Xiangcheng, who hadn't practiced for several days, followed the steps to practice.
The monotonous "bang, bang" sound continued without stopping until Teacher Misaki shouted "get out of class dismissed" from not far away.
Yuihara Kaoru took back the volleyball, panting, and slipped into the club's locker room.
"Kaoru!" Sakurai Rika was a little unhappy: "Why don't you go to physical education class and wait for me after class!"
Yuihara Kaoru, who has recovered as before, comforts her: "I'm studying physics seriously." - It's better not to put pressure on Rika. She feels so guilty after losing the game that she wants to abandon Yagyu-kun.
The simple-minded Rika easily believed the white lie of the Curly King Xiangcheng.
Only Yukimura saw her wrist still slightly red and suppressed the smile on her lips.
At the end of the club training, Xiangcheng had not completed today's plan. Rika looked at Yagyu at the door, then looked at Xiangcheng who was the only one training. She hesitated and didn't know what to do.
"Go back, Rika," Xiangcheng stopped after catching the ball, "I'll be done soon."
Sakurai Rika gradually pursed her lips, and finally walked out, turned on the lights in the volleyball hall, and closed the door for Xiangcheng.
The steady "bang, bang" sound rang out again.
Rika looked back at the volleyball court. It was like a cute beige monster that swallowed up the little Yuhara Kaoru so easily.
Niou and the others had already received a text message from Xiangcheng that their training would be postponed, so they left. In the vast school, it seemed as if Xiangcheng was the only one left.
Rika finally stopped and let go of Yagyu's hand: "I want to go back. I... am the one who should work hard."
"No need for that," Yagyu pointed in the direction of the volleyball hall, "It would be a bit redundant."
Yukimura, carrying a tennis bag, was strolling along the path leading to the volleyball hall.
"Yukimura is really... Never mind..." Rika put her arm around Yagyu again: "Then will you accompany me to the club to practice?"
"My pleasure."
The iron door of the volleyball hall creaked, and when Yukimura walked in, he saw Kaoru lying flat on the floor, repeating the action of throwing and catching the ball in her hands.
"What does this mean?" he couldn't help but ask out loud.
The frightened Xiangcheng shook his wrist and the volleyball fell directly on his face.
Yukimura caught the volleyball that rolled to his feet and said innocently, "I'm so sorry to have scared you!"
Xiangcheng rubbed his nose and said, "You obviously did it on purpose!" Then he sat up and said, "Why didn't you go home? Didn't I send you a message?"
Yukimura put down his tennis bag and sat down cross-legged. "Aren't you scared of being alone?"
Xiangcheng shook her head and wiped the sweat from her forehead that threatened to drip into her eyes with her arm. "There's nothing to be afraid of. It's hard for a normal person to have any bad thoughts when seeing such a tall and strong woman."
Yukimura looked at the "strong" Yuihara Yuihara - her muscles were just more pronounced, and compared to an ordinary girl, she was definitely not as strong as she thought she was.
But if I said that, Xiangcheng would definitely start his muscle-building plan again. Better not to mention it—"So lying down just now was also training?"
"Hmm...it's a way to train your dynamic vision. I can feel the distance of the ball directly, and I can also take a break when I'm tired."
Upon hearing this, Yukimura also lay down. A tennis ball appeared in his palm without him noticing. He threw it upwards, and the ball flew towards the sky above the volleyball hall with his movement. Under the light, it cast a shadow, which gradually turned into several.
Yukimura Seiichi's hand firmly grasped the real tennis ball.
"Kaoki--" "Yukimura--" The two people who spoke at the same time smiled again, waiting for the other to speak.
"Yukimura, you don't have to come over. I'll go back when I've practiced enough." Xiangcheng straightened her face. She didn't like wasting other people's time.
"It's okay," Yukimura said, still lying there. "Just go and practice on your own. I'll wait for you."
Xiangcheng opened her mouth, wanted to say something but swallowed it back, and finally asked, "Wait... do you want to eat ramen?"
Yukimura put on a smug smile and said, "Okay!"
Xiangcheng looked away. Yukimura's smile was a little too bright. "Then I'll treat you later, as...repay you for waiting for me."
"good."
Xiangcheng stood up, picked up the volleyball from him, and walked to the wall to start a new round of practice.
Cushion, pass, spike...
Yukimura thought back to the tournament in his third year of junior high school, where he lost to Seigaku, lost to Echizen, and even lost to himself. It turns out that wanting to win too much was the reason for losing, and that training day after day, several times harder than others, couldn't compare to happiness.
Seeing Xiangcheng comforting others in the hospital with an air of "winning or losing doesn't matter," and now desperately trying to regain her "losing" spirit, he suddenly realized that they were just the same kind of people - when they wanted to win, how could they smile? They would only constantly criticize themselves and then put in a hundred times the effort.
Just like a meteor with a mission, no matter how the sky breaks it up, it will try its best to make its life bloom with brilliant colors.
But volleyball...it's different from tennis!
"This ramen is super delicious," Xiangcheng took Yukimura to an alley not far from home. The ramen sign was flashing with ever-changing neon lights in the night. "I discovered it a year ago~"
"A year ago?"
Xiangcheng seemed to be remembering something unpleasant. "Ah... The national competition was coming up soon, and since I was banned from the competition, I didn't want to go to the competition, so I came to Kanagawa to see the ocean... I stayed there until dusk, and then I was so hungry that I found this restaurant!"
Yukimura couldn't help laughing when he heard this. He suddenly paused, then continued walking as if nothing had happened.
The ramen shop was bustling with people, but the owner noticed them immediately and smiled warmly, "Hey, Yuihara-san, would you like tonkotsu ramen with extra noodles today? And what about the guy next to you? Is this your first time here?"
Don't mention adding noodles... She was shy, but Xiangcheng nodded honestly and looked at Yukimura again. Yukimura pretended to ignore the first half of the sentence: "Then I want tonkotsu ramen too, uncle. By the way, mine doesn't have noodles~"
"Yukimura Seiichi!" Yukihara Kaoru gnashed her teeth and punched him in the arm. In her mind, Yukimura had gone from a good guy to a good guy with a bad taste!
Yukimura covered his arm and said, "It's broken."
“Stop it!”
The two sat down at a double table facing each other. Yukimura looked at the noisy scene in the store and said, "It looks delicious. Yui Cheng, do you come here often?"
"Um... three or four times a week?"
"Of course I love it." He has a fixed taste, a bit like a conservative old man like Sanada.
Xiangcheng suddenly felt that facing him was not a good option, as Yukimura's eyes were full of teasing. She unconsciously curled her lower lip outwards, avoiding Yukimura's gaze.
The ramen was served and when Xiangcheng was about to start eating, Yukimura stopped her, took out his cell phone and turned on the camera mode.
He said with a smile: "It's my first time eating ramen, I have to record it!"
There were two bowls of ramen with the same flavor. The noodles in the bowl opposite were piled high, but the focus was on the orange in the back with only the food in his eyes.
The author has something to say:
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Thank you for feeding us the nutrient solution!
And I'm sorry that I've been working as a social worker again these past two days and the update is late (sliding kneeling)
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Yuihara Kaoru: A strong woman starts with being able to eat! Everyone should eat well, build muscle and bones, and become a healthy human being~[Lop-eared rabbit head]
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