"For the pair sports, I choose Yukinoshita Yukino."
During the meeting in the conference room, Toru suddenly took Yukino's hand and raised it high, instantly drawing everyone's attention.
"Wait, wait a minute, what are you doing!"
Yukino panicked inwardly, struggling to shake off his hand.
Seeing everyone looking over, she forced herself to remain calm, trying not to let a blush stain her pale, delicate face.
But her rapidly beating heart betrayed her emotions.
Pairs of curious eyes turned toward them, filled with surprise, suspicion, and amusement.
The Principal of Sobu High School glanced at the hand Toru was using to hold Yukino's wrist and smiled ambiguously.
"Yukinoshita is the person in charge of our school's exchange event this time. She and Fujiwara-kun make quite a pair."
His words sounded as though he was deliberately matchmaking a talented man and a beautiful woman.
The students from Advanced Nurturing High School all looked toward Haruno. The surname Yukinoshita was rare to begin with, and everyone was guessing at the relationship between the two sisters.
"Fujiwara-kun, have you decided which events you'll be participating in?"
The school's sports festival wasn't the Olympics. Normally, Sobu High's sports day ended within half a day, but this time, with such a large-scale event, it would last the entire day.
"Yukino and I have just discussed it. We'll enter the doubles tennis match."
His casual way of calling her "Yukino" made it clear to everyone that the two already knew each other.
"Then I suppose the tennis court will be packed with spectators."
The Principal made a joke.
The meeting ended in less than half an hour, and the sports festival officially began in an orderly fashion.
Yukino finally broke free from Toru's hand as they walked down the corridor together.
"You've caused me a lot of trouble."
Her long, slender legs moved gracefully under her short skirt, her tone cold.
"I believe that with your ability, Yukino, those troubles aren't troubles at all. Are you doubting your own ability?"
"Reverse psychology doesn't work on me."
"Who says it doesn't? How do you know if you don't try?"
"I'm going to change into sportswear. Do you need to change?"
"It's just a school sports festival, not worth taking too seriously. Besides, don't you think I look pretty handsome as I am now?"
"Then you can look forward to the cheers of the high school girls."
Yukino turned away as if annoyed and went into the changing room.
"Oh, arguing with our great beauty Yukino and making her angry? But with high school girls, the more you make her angry, the more she'll think about you."
Shizuka, wearing a white coat, leaned against the corridor wall, holding an e-cigarette in her hand.
Toru sighed. "Hiratsuka-sensei, it's better not to smoke at school."
"It's just an e-cigarette, and there's no one here. Just a few puffs to satisfy my craving."
Even so, she still put it away.
"It's been a while since I last saw Hiratsuka-sensei."
"Fujiwara-kun, you're a busy man, so it's normal you don't have time to visit me."
"Ah, that's not right. Since Hiratsuka-sensei knows I'm busy, you should be the one to reach out. If you contact me, I'll have an excuse not to be busy anymore."
"So it's my fault now?"
Toru walked to her side.
"I didn't expect you and Haruno to know each other so well."
"Is Yukinoshita-senpai the friend you mentioned before, Hiratsuka-sensei?"
"Yes. Sobu High School is one of the best in Chiba, but few of its graduates make it into Advanced Nurturing High School. What surprised me even more is that besides Haruno, you're also close with her sister."
"You're a teacher, you shouldn't use a phrase like 'involved with.' It sounds bad."
Hearing Toru's teasing, Shizuka burst out laughing.
After a brief pause, she said, "...Since you brought it up yourself, Fujiwara-kun, how about I treat you to dinner next weekend?"
"Just dinner? That's boring. How about something more exciting?"
"Oh? And what kind of excitement are you thinking of?"
Shizuka raised her eyebrows.
"I know Hiratsuka-sensei likes cars. How about we go racing?"
"Racing? Hahaha, I didn't expect you could race too, Fujiwara-kun! Alright, now I'm looking forward to next week. I still have work to handle, so I'll get back to it. Fujiwara-kun and our beautiful Yukinoshita, good luck! Don't lose, that would be too embarrassing."
Shizuka waved goodbye and walked off. As a teacher, she still had many duties to handle.
With so many students from other schools here this time, she had to keep everything running smoothly.
...
In the changing room, Yukino heard someone open the door and walk in behind her.
She turned around and saw her sister, Haruno, in casual clothes, with short hair and sharp, well-defined features.
"Yukino, since when did you become so close with Toru-kun? Last time in Kyoto, you two were arguing."
Haruno's tone carried an unmistakable trace of interrogation.
It made Yukino uncomfortable. She removed her top, revealing her slender figure in only her underwear. As her name suggested, her skin was snow-white, her chest softly curved, her waist delicate and smooth.
"Sister, do I need to report my relationship with him to you?"
Her sudden assertiveness caught Haruno off guard for a moment.
"Yukino, do you like him?"
"I can't deny it. Toru-kun is handsome, gentle, and excellent in every aspect. It's normal to like him, isn't it?"
"Looking at him from every angle a woman would, yes, it's perfectly normal. But there must be many girls who like him. Even you, Sister, might not win. You don't have any advantage."
After putting on her sportswear, Yukino picked up a tennis racket, gave it a few powerful swings, and walked past Haruno toward the door.
Since childhood, she had always lived in her sister's shadow, always chasing after her.
But this time, she wanted to live for herself. This time, she wouldn't step back or admit defeat so easily.
She wanted to overcome her cowardly self.
Haruno watched her younger sister's back, her expression a mix of relief and frustration.
"Yukino has finally grown a bit, but the direction she's growing toward isn't what I hoped for."
She sighed helplessly. "...This brat, always causing trouble for her big sister."
When Yukino appeared before Toru again, she was fully geared up.
Her short-sleeved sports jersey embroidered with her name showed off her arms.
Her legs, straight and smooth beneath her shorts, were so white they almost reflected the light. Her feet, in spotless white sneakers and socks, looked delicate and clean.
At this moment, Yukino radiated fighting spirit. She tossed a tennis racket to Toru. "Do you need to get used to the racket?"
Toru swung it once. "No need, as long as it's good quality."
"Alright, we can't lose this time. We must get first place."
With that, she flicked her ponytail, lifted her chin proudly, and walked forward with her racket in hand.
"Why are you suddenly so full of fighting spirit?"
Toru smiled.
Yes, this was good. He liked people with fighting spirit.
Even if this was just a school sports festival, a competition was still a competition. He never intended to lose.
Competitions are about winning. There's no such thing as friendship in them.
Sobu High's grounds were large, filled with various courts. Yukino and Toru walked together toward the tennis court.
By the time they arrived, it was already packed. The girls from Sobu High had heard that Toru would be playing in the doubles tennis match, and all of them had gathered early to secure a spot.
"Fujiwara-sama is playing doubles tennis and needs a female partner!"
"One male and one female? Yabai, I wish Fujiwara-sama would choose me!"
"Can you even play tennis?"
"Uh, I don't think so, ahaha..."
"..."
"They're here, they're here! Fujiwara-sama is coming!"
"Fujiwara-sama, look here! Over here!"
Toru's arrival set off another wave of cheers.
The tennis court wasn't large, but the crowd packed around it in layers, leaving barely any space to move.
"Huh? Fujiwara-sama already has a teammate. Isn't that Yukino from Class 2?"
"Damn, it's her again. I swear, she's just putting on an act. Acting all high and mighty because she's in charge of the event, bossing everyone around in meetings. You'd think she was the Prime Minister of Japan."
"Exactly. That woman's so arrogant. I'm in the same class as her, and no one even talks to her."
"She's just a bit pretty, that's all."
"Don't say that, or people will think Fujiwara-sama chose her just because she's pretty. Yukinoshita's sister is in Fujiwara-sama's club at Advanced Nurturing High School. She only got to be in charge because of her sister's connections. I bet she arranged to be paired with him too."
"So that's how it is. I hope Fujiwara-sama sees through her and doesn't get tricked by that fake woman!"
"..."
The gossip and whispers didn't shake Yukino, nor did they anger her.
Since elementary school, she'd endured all kinds of bullying and exclusion. She had long since learned to face it with composure.
She didn't care about ridicule or isolation. All she cared about now was victory.
"Yukino, good luck!"
The single cheer that broke through the noise made her pause slightly. A girl with short pink hair was waving to her excitedly.
"Yuigahama-san."
The tense expression on Yukino's face softened, and she murmured softly.
Toru also noticed Yuigahama Yui. "A good friend?"
Yukino didn't answer.
"It seems like girls with pink hair all have that same bright and bubbly personality."
Toru said it with some amusement.
Anon was like that. His little sister, Chika, was like that too. And so was Yuigahama Yui.
"Less talking, let's defeat our opponents first."
Yukino kept a straight face.
"In this kind of high school sports festival, I could win even hopping on one foot."
Yukino couldn't help but laugh at Toru's words.
(To be continued.)
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