"Haha"
Watching Tanaka Masao's performance, Shizuka Hiratsuka laughed, so angry that she could barely contain herself. She felt deeply humiliated.
Sensing the anger almost tangible in Shizuka Hiratsuka, Yukinoshita silently stepped back a few paces.
Tanaka Masao, wailing on the ground, noticed the sudden tension. He stopped crying and lifted his head.
He saw Shizuka Hiratsuka smiling, and Yukinoshita Yukino, half a step back, looking sympathetic.
After a brief two-and-a-half-second pause, Tanaka Masao forced a smile that was unnerving.
"Hello."
······
On his way home, Tanaka Masao glared at Yukinoshita Yukino ahead and complained,
"Yukinoshita, how can you just sit there and watch Ms. Hiratsuka humiliate me like that?"
Yukinoshita Yukino glanced back calmly.
"You asked for it. Your acting is so bad anyone would think it's a joke."
"I… that's not acting! I just react a little slower than others," Tanaka Masao replied, his gaze wandering.
Well, thinking about it, his behavior did come off as somewhat comical.
And Hiratsuka Shizuka hadn't really attacked him; on the contrary, she had taught him a few techniques.
"Forget it. I'm magnanimous. I'll forgive both you and Ms. Hiratsuka," he said.
"Magnanimous? I think you should be the one showing magnanimity, Tanaka,"
Yukinoshita Yukino replied venomously. At that moment, they reached the intersection where they would part ways.
"Tanaka, don't forget your morning run at school tomorrow," she added.
"I know. See you tomorrow, Yukinoshita," Tanaka Masao waved, yawned, and headed home.
After being tormented by Yukinoshita Yukino and Shizuka Hiratsuka today, he needed rest.
Behind him, Yukinoshita muttered to herself,
"See you tomorrow?"
She couldn't remember the last time she had said this to anyone.
"Although Tanaka is flawed in many ways…," she thought, watching his back as she recalled the brief time she had spent with him over the past two days.
Though slightly overweight and not very handsome, he was polite, respected personal boundaries, and never forced himself on others.
Thinking this, Yukinoshita smiled faintly.
"He's someone you can just barely get along with."
Then she turned and headed home, her steps lighter and her interest in school slightly renewed.
······
The next day, Tanaka completed the morning run under Yukinoshita's supervision.
Today's results were slightly worse than yesterday's.
After a few days of training, his muscles were extremely sore. Yukinoshita explained that the intensity could be reduced slightly but not stopped. It would get better over time.
Reducing the intensity helped, and in his current condition, he couldn't have increased it even if he wanted to.
After quickly wiping the sweat off, Tanaka Masao returned to class.
He collapsed onto his desk like a puddle of mud, waiting for class.
[I'm so tired… will I fall asleep in class?]
His mind was already fuzzy, eyelids heavy, when he suddenly sensed movement ahead.
Raising his eyes, his mind instantly cleared.
Kawasaki Saki had arrived at her seat without him noticing. She didn't sit as usual but looked down at him, her expression cold as if inspecting a corpse. After two and a half seconds, she snorted and sat down.
Watching her back, Masao Tanaka swallowed hard.
[Saki must have figured out my plan from yesterday's PE class. Her look just now… it felt like she wanted to stab me. How could she have known what I did? What should I do?]
Indeed, Saki Kawasaki had noticed something unusual yesterday. Only Tanaka Masao had played a trick.
She was angry and exhausted after her tennis match with Yukinoshita Yukino. But honestly, playing against Yukinoshita was more enjoyable for her than hitting the wall alone.
She just couldn't understand why Masao had done that—was it to use her against Yukinoshita? Probably not.
Kawasaki Saki's mood was complicated, and this morning she was lying on the table, making Tanaka Masao glance at her twice more.
······
All morning, both were uneasy.
Kawasaki Saki felt Masao's eyes on her and didn't know his intentions.
Masao Tanaka looked at her back, unsure what she would do.
Kawasaki Saki wasn't the type to shy away, so during lunch she threw a note to him.
Opening it, Masao read:
[Come to the rooftop after lunch.]
If he didn't know the story, he would have assumed she wanted to confess.
Sighing, he decided to check it out after lunch. He took out his phone and texted Yukinoshita Yukino, saying he wouldn't go to the Service Club for lunch.
That's right, after two days of contact, he successfully obtained Yukinoshita Yukino's contact information.
After all, it was a long-term commission, and it would be more convenient to have the contact information.
······
Tanaka Masao ate lunch at his desk.
After ten minutes, Kawasaki Saki finished, packed up, and walked past him, signaling him to follow.
The school rooftop—a magical place.
It was the setting for skipping class, confessions, fights… and other dramatic events.
Kawasaki Saki, already there, looked at him and asked,
"Tell me, why did you make me play tennis with Yukinoshita yesterday?"
"Hmm…"
Tanaka hesitated, trying to answer.
"I saw you playing alone and thought you were lonely… so I found you a companion. Do you believe me?"
Saki paused, then narrowed her eyes and replied coldly,
"You think I'd believe that nonsense?"
Seeing this, Masao told the truth.
"Well… actually, you refused to play with me, which upset me a little, so I found you an opponent."
Saki frowned; she hadn't expected that reason.
After a few seconds, she said coldly,
"Childish."
Then she left without looking back.
Although she played a game of tennis with Yukinoshita Yukino, Kawasaki Saki didn't care, and was even a little happy.
It was well known that Yukinoshita Yukino was excellent, and she was able to be on par with her, which made Kawasaki Saki happy. She could even say something.
[Yukinoshita Yukino is just like that. ]
…
Looking at Kawasaki Saki's back, Tanaka Masao was a little confused.
[Leaving now? Why don't you take revenge and punish me. ]
Without being punished or paying a price, Tanaka Masao suddenly felt a little uncomfortable.