The impasse in Class F's cultural festival planning stemmed from the boys' clear, if impractical, motivations. Their suggestions were either thinly-veiled requests for the girls to display their appeal in revealing outfits, or self-serving attempts to orchestrate scenarios where they could shine, driven by lingering envy over Hozuki Nozomi's romantic windfall during the last festival. The resulting cacophony of conflicting ideas led nowhere.
Finally, Shizuka Hiratsuka, losing patience with the hormone-fueled brainstorming, turned her expectant gaze toward the female students. "Anyone with a practical suggestion?"
"How about a dessert exhibition?" Shiina Mahiru proposed, her voice calm and clear. "Since the goal is to showcase our class's spirit and diversity, preparing food for visitors to sample would be a welcoming and enjoyable activity."
Her suggestion was met with immediate, widespread approval. While many boys harbored lecherous fantasies, most were still fundamentally simple creatures at heart. The prospect of eating sweets personally prepared by cute classmates was a powerful and universally appealing motivator. The girls who possessed culinary skills nodded in agreement, already mentally planning their signature dishes.
Yui Yuigahama's hand shot up, her face beaming with enthusiasm. "I'll participate too! That sounds so much fun!"
A flicker of concern passed through Hozuki Nozomi's mind. Yui, are you sure about that? Her legendary culinary prowess—or lack thereof—was known to those in the know. The cultural festival didn't need a public health incident.
"Excellent," Hiratsuka-sensei declared, clapping her hands together to seal the decision. "Class F will host a dessert tasting event. I'll handle the funding application." Her eyes then landed on the class's most capable duo. "Mahiru, Nozomi, I'm entrusting the ingredient procurement to you two."
Time flowed into the noon break. Members of the Service Club—minus Suo Yuki and Ayano Kimishima, who were occupied with Student Council duties—reconvened at the school's tennis courts. They hadn't forgotten Saika Totsuka's request.
Under Yukino Yukinoshita's stern supervision, the delicate and slender Totsuka was engaged in yet another grueling session of "desperate training." Despite pouring his heart into every swing, his movements remained awkward, his stamina flagging quickly. He consistently failed to meet Yukino's exacting, if theoretically sound, standards.
Yukino watched, a slight frown etching her features. A thread of self-doubt wove through her thoughts. Perhaps her methodology was flawed. Considering Totsuka's inherent physical constitution—he was, frankly, more fragile than she was—brute-force intense exercise might be entirely counterproductive.
As she pondered an adjustment, Saika Totsuka stumbled, his legs giving out. He fell to the court's surface, his knee scraping against the rough concrete with a sickening sound.
Hachiman Hikigaya was the first to react, rushing over to help the wincing boy to his feet. "Are you okay?" His concern was genuine, but his eyes immediately sought out Hozuki Nozomi, telegraphing a silent, urgent message: Where's that external help you promised? If this keeps up, he's going to break before he gets better.
Nozomi responded with a barely perceptible eye-roll. His own look replied, Patience. The ace has to make a dramatic entrance.
Yukino Yukinoshita observed the scene, letting out a soft, frustrated sigh. "Take a break," she instructed, her voice cool. Without another word, she turned and walked briskly away from the group, heading toward the school building.
Yui Yuigahama bit her lip, anxiety written on her face. "Yukinon..."
"I'm so sorry," Saika Totsuka mumbled, his head bowed. "It's all my fault for being so useless and weak. I can't even complete basic training properly. Yukinoshita-san must be terribly disappointed in me."
His voice trembled with dejection. Not only was his tennis not improving, but the gulf between himself and an ideal of capable masculinity, as embodied by someone like Hozuki Nozomi, seemed to widen by the day.
"No, that's not it," Hozuki Nozomi interjected, his tone patient and firm. "Don't misinterpret her. Yukino isn't someone who abandons a request easily, and she's certainly not angry."
"Then why did she leave like that?" Yui asked, confused.
Nozomi gestured in the direction Yukino had gone. "She's probably fetching the first-aid kit. Totsuka-kun is injured, after all."
Yui's face instantly brightened. "Of course! That's exactly it! Yukinon is the kindest person!"
Hachiman Hikigaya's mouth twitched.
Kind?
The Yukinoshita Yukino he knew was a glacier of razor-sharp intellect and colder looks. He often avoided direct eye contact for fear of frostbite.
Yet... if Nozomi was right, and she had indeed gone for medical supplies, he would have to seriously reevaluate his assessment. His gaze shifted to Hozuki Nozomi, and a pang of pure, unadulterated envy struck him.
He knows. He's experienced that hidden gentleness for himself. He understands her that well. Why was the romantic landscape so unfairly tilted in one scoundrel's favor? Hachiman couldn't help but sigh internally.
As Saika Totsuka sat resting his injured knee, the promised "external help" made its entrance.
"Hayato, I feel like playing tennis."
The declaration came from Miura Yumiko, who strode onto the court flanked by Ebina Hina, Shiina Mahiru, and Ogiwara Sayu. Behind them followed Hayama Hayato and Tobe Kakeru, all carrying tennis rackets, clearly prepared for a game.
Hearing that casual "Hayato" after so long being addressed formally as "Hayama-kun," Hayato felt a familiar, dull ache in his chest. Suppressing a sigh, he slipped on his trademark gentle smile and addressed the Service Club group. "Excuse us. Would you mind if we used the court?"
"Um... well, we're in the middle of training here... and I did reserve this court..." Saika Totsuka replied, his voice barely above a whisper, but his reluctance to yield was clear.
"Reserved? What's that supposed to mean?" Miura Yumiko retorted, adopting the air of a classic schoolyard antagonist. "The court is huge. What's the problem with sharing? We can all play together! Besides, you're all just sitting around now anyway." Her blunt, domineering logic effectively silenced Totsuka.
Yui Yuigahama fidgeted, wanting to explain and mediate, but her habitual deference to others—especially a close friend like Yumiko—left her tongue-tied.
It was Hachiman Hikigaya who stepped into the breach, his face a mask of flat indifference. "Miura-san, this court is officially reserved for our use. If you wish to play here, please submit a proper application or wait until we are finished."
"What are you going on about? I don't get it," Yumiko dismissed him outright and turned her full attention to Hayama. "Hayato, it's been ages since I played tennis. I finally have some free time today, and I really want to play!"
Trapped, Hayama Hayato offered an awkward smile, then took a deliberate breath. "How about we settle this amicably?" he proposed to Hachiman. "A friendly tennis match to decide court priority. Since you're training anyway, playing against opponents of a similar level is excellent practice, isn't it?"
"Agreed."
The crisp acceptance came not from Hachiman, but from Yukino Yukinoshita, who had returned, a white first-aid kit in hand. She met the challenge head-on, her cool gaze fixed on Hayama. She had never liked his placid, people-pleasing facade, and even acknowledging her own physical limitations, her competitive spirit refused to back down.
Hayama's smile grew strained. He was acutely aware of Yukino's disdain, and he had no desire to antagonize her further. Moreover, Yumiko's sudden, insistent desire to play tennis today felt orchestrated, putting him in an uncomfortable position.
"Yukinoshita-san, you..." Seeing the first-aid kit in her hand, Saika Totsuka's eyes widened, shimmering with emotion. So, she hadn't given up on him. She had been concerned for his injury.
"My apologies, the nurse was absent. It took a moment to locate the kit," Yukino stated matter-of-factly, kneeling to open it.
"I'll handle it." Hozuki Nozomi was quicker, smoothly taking the disinfectant and bandages from her grasp and setting to work on Totsuka's scraped knee with practiced ease.
Hachiman stared, momentarily stunned. Wait, has even Nozomi fallen prey to Totsuka's legendary cuteness? Totsuka, stay strong! Don't succumb to that succubus's charms!
He was, of course, wildly overthinking. Yukino Yukinoshita understood the true reason immediately. A faint, almost imperceptible twitch touched her lips as she acquiesced, a complex mix of annoyance and something warmer swirling within her. This jealous man simply didn't want her touching another boy, even one as harmless as Totsuka.
Facing Yukino's frosty gaze, Miura Yumiko, however, broke into a bright, challenging smile. "Since it's settled, let the game begin, Yukinoshita. How about we make it interesting? The losers grant the winners one condition. Do you dare?"
A cold, confident smirk touched Yukino's lips. "Heh. I'd be delighted to accompany you."
The burgeoning confrontation quickly drew a crowd. Whispers and excited chatter spread."Wow, a showdown?""A tennis match? Yukinoshita-san is playing!""Look, Shiina-senpai and Miura-senpai are there too!""It's a gathering of beauties! This is going to be epic!"Fueled by the participants' notoriety, a ring of spectators formed around the court.
A high-stakes doubles match was officially on. From the very first serve, Miura Yumiko revealed unexpectedly formidable athletic prowess. Her powerful, precise strokes, combined with her confident poise and striking figure, drew gasps and enthusiastic cheers from the watching students. The atmosphere crackled with competitive tension.