Chapter Nine
The hustle and bustle of the campus seemed to echo as if it were yesterday, but in the blink of an eye, it was replaced by the rustling of pages turning and the swishing of pens across paper.
The air during the exam preparation season was like a tightly wound spring, tense every minute and every second. Yuzuru's schedule was packed to the brim—in addition to classroom learning and practice exercises, the platform's audio live broadcasts and work update tasks were like two small mountains, making it almost impossible for her to breathe.
Fortunately, she was not alone. The heart-to-heart talk on the rooftop that day was still vivid in her mind. When her fingertips touched Yukimura's, the determined light in their eyes etched the goal of "University of Tokyo" into their hearts.
The study plan they made together was posted on their desks, the dense handwriting revealing their tacit understanding and strength in moving forward side by side. But even the most meticulous plan couldn't withstand the high pressure of working non-stop, and a sudden high fever unexpectedly broke Yuzuru.
The temperature in the dead of night was bone-chillingly cold. Yukimura noticed in his sleep that the person in his arms was unusually hot. When he woke up, the skin he touched with his fingertips was shockingly hot.
He sprang to his feet almost instantly, frantically grabbing the thermometer. The number "39℃" on the display made his heart clench. Without thinking, he simply grabbed his coat and wrapped it around Yuzuru, not even bothering to change out of his pajamas, before carrying her, who was barely conscious, into the night.
The hospital lights were particularly glaring in the early morning. Yukimura's hand, clutching the payment slip, trembled slightly. Only when he watched the liquid in the IV drip slowly flow into Yuzuru's body and the number on the thermometer gradually drop did his tense nerves finally relax. Looking at the pale-faced person on the hospital bed, he murmured, "His physical condition is still too poor. He must exercise every day from now on."
The next day, the two empty seats in Group D of the first year of high school did not attract much attention. Only when Sato Yuko glanced at the empty seats did a meaningful smile appear on her lips, and her eyes held a knowing look of "I knew it".
Upon learning of Yuzuru's illness, she specially bought fruit and went to the hospital to visit him. As soon as she opened the door, she saw Yukimura holding a cup of warm water and carefully feeding Yuzuru. His usual composed and strategic demeanor was now filled with tenderness as if he were treating a precious treasure.
Yuko Sato leaned against the doorframe, her gaze sweeping between the two of them, her teasing almost overflowing: "Yuzuru, you'd better get better soon, or someone will be worried sick." Yuzuru's cheeks flushed, and he buried himself in the blankets, not daring to look up, but Yukimura calmly replied: "Of course."
This illness acted like a switch, completely activating Yukimura's "wife-protecting mode."
After recovering from her illness, Yuzuru found that her daily life was completely taken over: every morning she had to take a half-hour walk or run without fail, ostensibly to "improve her physique"; the air conditioning temperature was strictly controlled at 26°C, and even if she complained of the heat, Yukimura would never allow her to lower it by one degree; she was also not allowed to walk barefoot on the floor, or Yukimura would "catch" her if she was not careful.
Yuzuru was exasperated by her strictness, feeling like a fragile porcelain doll, and repeatedly begged for mercy: "Oichi, I'm fine now, don't be so nervous!" Yukimura simply ruffled her hair, his eyes resolute: "No, what if you get sick again?"
Life slowly returned to normal under Yukimura's "strict supervision." It was another morning, and sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows.
After the morning assembly, as class was about to begin, Yuzuru opened his bag to organize his textbooks. When his fingertips touched the familiar leather texture, his heart suddenly skipped a beat—this wasn't her bag!
The last time I went shopping with Mina, she immediately fell in love with this black leather bag. It's dirt-resistant and rainproof, so she bought two. Unexpectedly, Yukimura also liked it and has been using it ever since.
Now that two identical schoolbags have been mixed up, with people coming and going in the classroom, if someone finds out, who knows how much gossip it will cause.
Yuzuru broke out in a cold sweat and frantically tried to hide his bag, only to see Yukimura walking straight over with a faint smile on his face, speaking as if he were talking about something trivial: "I took the wrong one this morning."
Before he finished speaking, he had already handed over the backpack he was holding and taken the one from Yuzuru's hand. The whole process was smooth and efficient, without any hesitation.
Yuzuru stood there, stunned, with only one thought in his mind: Was it really that hasty?
This scene was witnessed by Sato Yuko, who was not far away. She covered her mouth and chuckled to herself, thinking to herself, "That girl Yuzuru is really completely under Yukimura's thumb."
Rumors spread faster than you can imagine. In just one morning, the news that "Momozawa Hanyu from Class D of Grade 1 is Yukimura Seiichi's marriage partner" spread like wildfire throughout the Rikkai University campus.
From "the two finally got married after three years of secret love" to "Momozawa Hanyu is actually Sanada Genichiro's sister", the rumors snowballed and became more and more outrageous, eventually evolving into "Yukimura gave up the opportunity to study abroad for Hanyu".
This farce eventually alarmed the student council, and after a series of clarifications and controls, the rumors gradually subsided. However, when Yuzuru walked down the street, she still felt curious stares from all directions, making her feel very uncomfortable.
Left with no other choice, she could only devote all her attention to studying, using exercises and books to isolate herself from the distractions of the outside world.
The solemn exam bell rang and then fell. As the last exam paper was collected, the first year of high school quietly came to an end the moment the pen drew its final period.
As they entered their second year of high school, the "relationship" between Yuzuru and Yukimura was still a topic of conversation, but Yukimura's aura became increasingly powerful. The oppressive feeling he exuded on a daily basis deterred those who wanted to gossip or provoke him.
That year, the tennis team remained invincible, sweating it out on the court and successfully defending their title, achieving Rikkai's two-year reign as champions.
On the podium, Yukimura stood at the front of the group, his posture even more upright. The youthful immaturity in his eyes had faded, replaced by a more mature and sharp look. He raised the trophy and said in a resounding voice, "Rikkai University has no blind spots."
This statement is both a summary of the past and a declaration of war for the future—their goal is a three-peat.
Time flies, the curtain rises on the senior year of high school, and the gears of fate turn gently, placing Yuzuru and Yukimura in different classes.
Opportunities to meet face-to-face have decreased somewhat; morning walks have turned into evening waits, and eye contact in class has become a fleeting glance during the ten-minute break. But the feelings hidden in our hearts have become more and more stable with the passage of time.
That year, Yukimura received a signing offer from a famous tennis club in England. After repeated discussions with his family, he finally signed the contract, but agreed that his focus at this stage would still be on his studies.
Occasionally, he would fly to the UK during holidays to receive guidance from professional coaches, but formal training would not begin until after he graduated from high school.
The National Youth Tennis Tournament arrived as scheduled. This was the last grand event of Yukimura's high school career, and Yuzuru Hanyu attended almost every match.
Even though Yukimura had few opportunities to play in the early stages of the matches, she would sit in a corner of the stands and quietly cheer him on. Watching the boys run and jump on the court, she felt their undisguised passion and fighting spirit.
When Yuzuru Hanyu was interacting with familiar fans, his eyes shone with light: "Life requires the courage to face challenges and the passion to move forward without hesitation. The meaning of life lies in choosing what you love."
On the day of the final, the stadium was packed. Yuzuru was intently watching the match when a familiar voice suddenly came from behind him.
She turned around and saw Tezuka Kunimitsu standing there, his figure even more upright than before, his demeanor still composed. "Momozawa-san, good day." Tezuka nodded slightly. "Tezuka-kun, good day." Yuzuru replied with a smile.
Fuji Syusuke, standing beside him, smiled and said with a hint of amusement, "Tezuka, you should call her Yukimura-san now. Yukimura and she are already married."
A hint of surprise flashed in Tezuka's eyes, then he looked sincerely at Yukimura, who was warming up not far away, and nodded, saying, "Congratulations."
Yukimura happened to walk over, and upon hearing this, he smiled and said with a determined look in his eyes, "You too, Tezuka. You've shone brightly on the international stage. I hope we can face each other again in the future."
The competition was thrilling, and the Rikkai University students, with their excellent teamwork and tenacious perseverance, fought their way through the competition and finally stood on the highest podium.
The moment the championship trophy was raised, the tennis team members hugged each other tightly, cheers resounded throughout the entire stadium, and the applause and screams from the audience lasted for a long time.
The three-peat brought their high school tennis career to a perfect close.
The celebratory banquet was lively and boisterous, with the rich aroma of sake filling the air.
Yukimura had drunk some wine, and a faint blush rose to his cheeks, but his eyes grew increasingly intense.
After the banquet, he held Yuzuru tightly, his steps a little unsteady, but he stubbornly buried his head in the crook of her neck, his voice slightly hoarse: "How did you feel about seeing Tezuka today?"
Yuzuru was a little breathless from being hugged so tightly, his cheeks burning: "...It's nothing, let go, go wash up."
"Let's shower together." Yukimura's voice was domineering and left no room for refusal. Before Yuzuru could resist, he picked her up by the waist and carried her to the bathroom.
Soon, gasps and embarrassed pleas echoed from the bathroom. The warm steam blurred his vision, and Yukimura's cool fingertips traced the smooth skin as he whispered, "Am I pretty?"
Yuzuru's voice was choked with sobs, broken and intermittent: "Mmm...mmm...Oichi is the prettiest, I love Oichi the most."
"Ah...don't touch there..."
"I've always loved Yu the most," Yukimura's kisses landed on her forehead, her brows, and her lips, his voice so gentle it could melt water, yet filled with undisguised deep affection, "I love her so much, so much..."
Moonlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains on the bed, outlining the silhouettes of the two embracing. Their final act of restraint was a tacit, tender understanding; they drifted off to sleep to the sound of each other's heartbeats.
Time flies. Yukimura graduated from high school ahead of schedule thanks to his excellent grades. On the day he received his early admission letter from the University of Tokyo, Yuzuru hugged him, his eyes crinkling with laughter, but his eyes held an undisguised reluctance.
On the day of their farewell, the airport wind was cool. Yukimura ruffled Yuzuru's hair and leaned down to place a gentle kiss on her forehead: "Wait for me to come back."
Yuzuru nodded vigorously, watching him turn and walk into the security checkpoint. Only when that familiar figure disappeared from sight did tears finally fall. The plane soared into the sky, carrying the boy's dreams and aspirations, flying towards distant England.
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