Eh~ Isn't that a bit much..? By the way, why are you doing this?
Miss Dango, who still knew nothing of life's harshness, asked with a look of innocent confusion.
Because they couldn't beat me, yet didn't want to work hard to surpass me themselves, they deluded themselves into thinking they could use such clumsy methods to make me embarrass myself. Just as Yukino was talking with Yui, Ayaka perhaps ran too fast while trying to catch the ball and accidentally fell on the court.
His snow-white knee was scraped raw by the rough gravel, and a little bright-red blood immediately began to flow from the wound. Seeing this, the three girls from the Service Club hurried over.
"Little Aya~ Are you all right?" Yui hurried over and helped Ayaka, who was kneeling on the ground, to his feet.
"I'm fine. I just wasn't paying attention. Sorry for worrying you."
"What are you saying? Are you really all right? It looks painful."
Yui gazed heartbrokenly at the wound on Ayaka's knee.
"I'm fine. I should still be able to continue." When Ayaka tried to stand, the movement aggravated the wound, so he crouched down again.
"Hey, Hachiman-kun, carry him to the nurse's office and disinfect the wound first." After giving Hachiman the order, Yukino turned to Ayaka. "I know you can't wait to improve your tennis skills, but you still need to take care of your body. This may look like a minor injury, but what will you do if the wound becomes infected?"
Hachiman crouched down and carried Ayaka on his back, placing both hands beneath his thighs. The delicate sensation made Hachiman unable to resist giving them a squeeze.
Ayaka let out a muffled groan after being suddenly stimulated. Since his head was resting against Hachiman's back, his mouth was only a fist's width from Hachiman's ear.
Because of this, the hot breath escaping from Ayaka's breathing and muffled groans echoed in Hachiman's ear, making him shudder.
"Hachiman-kun, what are you doing? Why did you suddenly pinch me?"
Ayaka whispered softly into Hachiman's ear.
But to Hachiman, it sounded like a demon's whisper, constantly tempting him to let his soul fall into depravity.
Just as Hachiman was about to lose his resolve, the four of them finally reached the nurse's office.
After the school nurse removed the gravel from Ayaka's knee and disinfected it with hydrogen peroxide, she said, "Luckily, the injury isn't serious. You only scraped off the surface of the skin. It should probably be healed by tomorrow."
"Well, that means you probably can't practice today. Totsuka-kun, get some proper rest today."
"As for improving your tennis skills, the Service Club will handle it as a long-term request, so you can rest assured."
"Mm, sorry for the trouble, Yukino."
"Yuihama and Hachiman-kun, too."
Ayaka spoke to the three members of the Service Club with an apologetic smile.
"Then get some proper rest. We'll be going now."
After speaking to Ayaka, Yukino left directly with Hachiman and Yui.
The Fifteenth Chapter: Resolution
During the several days after Ayaka's injury, his tennis training continued as usual. During physical education class, Hachiman practiced doubles with him, while Yukino took charge during their free time.
Under such high-intensity repetition, Ayaka's tennis skills improved day by day.
At first, Yukino could easily deal with him. Then he reached the point where Yukino was left panting after winning a match. In the end, Ayaka was even able to exploit Yukino's weakness in stamina and drag the match out until he won.
"Whew~ Totsuka-kun, your tennis skills have improved far too much compared to a few days ago, so your request can be considered complete."
Yukino, who was crouching on the ground and leaning on her racket because of her severe exhaustion, panted with flushed cheeks.
Her athletic uniform was soaked through from the excessive amount of sweat, revealing her graceful figure without reserve.
Hachiman walked over and handed water to Yukino and Ayaka. After Yukino gulped down half a bottle at once, she let out a satisfied breath. Just as she was about to stand, she realized that the intense exercise over the past several days had caused lactic acid to build up in her muscles.
Thus, Yukino could only crouch back down and signal with her eyes for Hachiman to help her up.
Seeing Yukino's signal, Hachiman's years of mutual understanding with her made him walk over and lift her directly in a princess carry.
Yukino blinked after being suddenly picked up, looking somewhat dazed. Her face displayed an expression like this: #?Д?.
Being carried so shamefully in front of so many people, Yukino remained stunned for a moment. Then her entire face reddened as if blood might drip from it, and she reached out to pinch the soft flesh at Hachiman's waist with all her strength.
The pain prompted Hachiman to raise a hand and smack Yukino's butt hard. Through the thin fabric, he could clearly feel its soft, warm texture, while the slight flesh pressed between his five fingers formed furrow-like marks.
After such stimulation suddenly struck a sensitive spot, a faint gasp escaped Yukino's nose. She then relaxed her grip on the soft flesh at Hachiman's waist. Too embarrassed to meet Yui and Ayaka's eyes, she simply buried her head in Hachiman's chest.
Just then, an extremely grating commotion suddenly came from outside the court.
"Eh, they're playing tennis."
When they turned around, they saw the popular crowd led by Hayama and Miura.
"Hayama, I want to play tennis, too." Miura asked as if seeking Hayama's opinion.
"Ah, that's Yui." A girl beside Miura spoke softly.
Miura, however, seemed not to hear her and walked straight toward Ayaka.
"Totsuka, I want to play tennis, too."
"But Hachiman and the others applied to Teacher Hiratsuka for this court so I could use it for practice."
Ayaka spoke softly.
Miura seemed not to hear him and continued talking to herself. "Eh? What are you saying? You're speaking so quietly."
Totsuka fell silent and said nothing more.
Hachiman sighed, put down the Yukino he was carrying, and had Yui support her as they walked.
He said to the three of them, "You three go on ahead."
After Yukino and the others left, Hachiman stepped forward and locked the court door. Then he walked toward Hayama and the others, spinning the key in his hand.
He walked up and patted Hayama on the shoulder. Ignoring Miura's loud exclamations beside him, he looked directly into Hayama's eyes.
"The person you were carrying just now was Yukino, wasn't she?"
Hayama smiled gently.
"I didn't expect her to trust you so much."
"Maybe."
Hachiman, wearing glasses, smiled at Hayama as well.
"Although you can handle Yukino, you should be careful of her older sister. That person isn't as easy to deal with as Yukino."
Hayama offered the warning sincerely.
"Haruno? I'll keep that in mind."
Hachiman, in his second run-through, showed not the slightest trace of fear.
"Looks like you already know quite a lot from Yukino. Then I wish you good luck." Hayama nodded knowingly.
"Then I'll wish you luck in holding the young lady in your arms soon, too."
Hachiman ignored Hayama's shocked expression and turned to chase after Yukino.
Hayama frowned with a complicated look as he watched Hachiman's back, murmuring, "Looks like I underestimated you, Hachiman-kun. This isn't something Miss Yukino could have known."
When Hachiman reached the Service Club's classroom, Yukino seemed to have just sat down.
"You dealt with it that quickly?" Yukino's face was deeply exhausted. Even Hachiman had felt slight muscle soreness these past few days, so Yukino, who had constantly served as the main practice partner, must have been even more tired.
"Why wouldn't you trust me to handle things?"
As he spoke, Hachiman walked over, removed Yukino's shoes and over-the-knee socks, and gently massaged her feet and calves.
"No. It's precisely because you're the one handling it that I don't trust you. Have you forgotten how much trouble those stupid things you did in the past caused me and...?"
Yukino glanced at Yui standing nearby and swallowed the name that had almost escaped her lips.
"Are Hikki and Little Snow dating?" Watching the affectionate interaction between the two, Yui asked hesitantly.
"We only confirmed our relationship last weekend. We haven't told anyone else yet, so could you help us keep it a secret, Yui? Neither Yukino nor I want too many people to know."
Hachiman smiled as he spoke to the dumbfounded Miss Dango in front of him.
Yukino, who had been enjoying herself with her eyes closed, did not object. Seeing this scene, Yui nodded with a complicated expression.
"Yuihama, promise me you won't tell anyone, all right?" Yukino suddenly spoke without opening her eyes.
"Mm, I promise I won't tell anyone, Little Snow. After all, we're friends, aren't we?"
When Yukino heard the word "friends," she opened her eyes. Looking at Yui's expectant face, she nodded.
After seeing Yukino confirm it with a nod, Yui smiled happily and moved closer to her.
"How did Little Snow agree to Hikki? Can you tell me?"
Looking at the gossip-loving girl in front of her, Yukino rolled her eyes. "It's nothing. I've known this guy for a long time... so that's how it happened."
"I found out that you were the owner of the dog that caused that accident while chatting with this guy back then."
Hachiman suddenly cut in, covering up the lie he had told at the time.
Yui smiled awkwardly after Hachiman suddenly interrupted.
"Yuihama, you don't need to worry about it. I was the one who accidentally hit him back then, so you don't need to feel guilty toward him."
"But I still bear some responsibility for what happened."
Yui did not let go of her guilt toward Hachiman because of Yukino's words.
"If you want to express your thanks to me, stay in the Service Club and help Yukino and me. The two of us really can't keep up sometimes."
"What do you mean? Am I not already a member of the Service Club?" Yui looked confused.
"I never received a request from Teacher Hiratsuka or an application from you, so you aren't one yet."
Yukino smiled as she explained it to Yui.
"Eh! Then I'll write one now!"
Looking at the application filled with various emoticons, Yukino waved weakly. "Welcome to the Service Club, Yuihama."
At that moment, perhaps because Hachiman's hands were a little too heavy, Yukino cried out, "What are you doing?!" As she spoke, she planted her free left foot on Hachiman's face and used her toes to pinch and tug at his nose. "It hurts! Can't you be more careful?"
Pinned beneath her foot, Hachiman could only roll his eyes and enjoy this unique privilege.
The Seventeenth Chapter: Daily Life
"Little Snow~ Why did you ask me to come over?" Yui pushed open the door and walked in.
"Ah, you're here."
As Yukino spoke, she took the gift box from her schoolbag.
"It's your birthday today, so Hachiman-kun and I bought a present together over the weekend and planned to give it to you."
Having never experienced anything like this before, Yukino felt somewhat embarrassed.
"Eh~ It's for me?" Yui's face showed a trace of surprise.
"What? Is it so surprising for me to give someone a present?" Seeing the astonishment on Yui's face, a trace of feigned anger appeared on Yukino's delicate features.
"No, that's not what I mean. I just didn't expect Little Snow to know my birthday."
Yui waved her hands innocently as she spoke.
After taking the gift box from Yukino, Yui smiled happily. "Can I open it now?"
"Eh, yes." Yukino paused, then nodded to indicate that Yui could open it.
Taking the small knife Hachiman handed her, Yui opened the gift box in front of her and took out the pink apron decorated with lace trim inside.
"Wow~ How did Little Snow know I liked this kind of thing?"
Yui's eyes sparkled. She threw her arms around Yukino and rubbed against her like an affectionate dog.
"What are you doing? Get up already."
Having never been treated this way by another girl, Yukino panicked and tried to push Yui away.
"Heeheehee, Little Yukino is still so shy."
Yui poked Yukino's cheek with her finger.
Yukino slapped away Yui's mischievous hand. With a faint blush on her face, she said, "Why don't you try it on and see if it fits? If you keep this up, I'll take it back."
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