I Like It When You Play

So she looked at Nakano Itsuki again. "Itsuki- san, please give me a piece."

Nakano Itsuki was both amused and exasperated. As she handed the bag over, she also gave Fushimi Makoto a beautiful eye roll.

What does it mean that snacks you snatch from a friend taste the best?

Now that you mention it, I feel like I might not be able to keep the rest of my snacks either.

After this little incident, all the members participating in the women's relay race took to the field.

Nakano Yotsuba, just like the number in her name, is the fourth batter.

"Did the Nakano Family's children also participate in the competition?" Mrs. Yukinoshita was a little surprised when she saw Nakano Yotsuba's familiar figure.

Yukino understood that her mother didn't know much about the five Nakano Family sisters, and with Ichika's influence being so great, many people assumed that the other four girls in the Nakano Family also had talent in this area.

"Of the five of them, Yotsuba is the most athletic. Whether it's speed or explosiveness, she can be considered one of the best among the girls," Yukino explained.

"You speak so highly of her? Are you two close?" Haruno, who had specially worn a beautiful dress today, couldn't help but become interested.

She was not only wearing a long dress with a cinched waist, but also flesh-colored stockings.

The three of them are now sitting on the sidelines. Because of her casual posture, Haruno's shapely legs are showing from under her skirt.

Yukino glanced at it subconsciously.

Then her face darkened, and she wondered if she had caught the infection from that pervert. Seeing her sister wearing flesh-colored stockings, her first instinct was actually to take a closer look?

"What are you looking at?" Haruno's insight was also very sharp; she guessed her sister's thoughts in almost half a second.

She immediately laughed, "That's right, Yukino is a young lady now, she's reached the age where she should be dressing up. Since you're interested in stockings, I'll give you a few pairs when we get back today."

Yukino refused expressionlessly. "There's no need for that."

I have my own stockings!

Black, flesh-colored, white—I bought so many because someone likes them.

However, she did not show it to Fushimi Makoto.

She once saw a quote online. "What you can't have always seems more alluring."

Only if you occasionally wear it out as a reward will he always have something to look forward to.

The two sisters started chatting about Nakano Yotsuba, Mrs. Yukinoshita remained silent throughout.

She was still thinking about Yukino and the stockings.

She knew perfectly well that her youngest daughter wasn't interested in stockings, but the other girl's expression just now suggested she was quite interested.

So the answer is... does that little rascal like it?

She glanced subconsciously at her smooth, jade-like legs, and then remembered the outfit that Sawamura Sayuri had picked out for her that day, which had made someone's eyes light up.

So it wasn't just that dress that had a special attack effect on him; her stockings also provided a boost?

Mrs. Yukinoshita inexplicably felt her face getting hot.

As the women's relay race began, the atmosphere around us suddenly became incredibly lively... Well, it wasn't actually that lively to begin with, but the "cheering squad" led by Fushimi Makoto was loudly cheering for Nakano Yotsuba. Apart from Utaha, who was relatively quiet, Nino and the others were shouting their hearts out.

Seeing how powerful Aota Fushimi Makoto's shout was, Aota and the others immediately roared, "As Fushimi's best friends, how can we lose to him in terms of volume? Let's do it too!"

"Wait, I don't think anyone said there would be a competition based on volume, right?" Hayato Hayama asked, wiping his sweat after the competition.

However, all his friends joined in the fun with Aota, shouting "Yotsuba -kun!" with great enthusiasm. In the end, he could only smile helplessly and join his friends' group.

That's just the kind of person he is; he can always make his friends feel comfortable with him immediately.

But he has changed a lot since then.

For example, he found something he wanted to do and something interesting in Fushimi Makoto.

While cheering loudly, Hayato Hayama glanced at the pendant Fushimi Makoto had given him on his wrist, thinking to himself, "Since the Daoist temples in China are so amazing, perhaps I could take some time to study them someday?"

It's only Fushimi Makoto didn't know Hayato Hayama's thoughts that he did this; otherwise, he would definitely have warned him, "Don't get so caught up in this and suddenly decide you want to become a Daoist priest!"

Given Hayato Hayama's current trust and admiration for him, he felt that it was probably quite possible.

Who knows, if the other person gets carried away and starts bringing out more and more amazing gadgets, he might just disappear into a Daoist temple and never come back. In that case, the school's most dazzling blond heartthrob might also be leaving everyone.

On the field Nakano Yotsuba's team was not strong overall. Before she even got the baton, her team was already far behind.

But she was not discouraged at all; on the contrary, her pretty little face was full of fighting spirit.

"I'm not fighting alone, everyone is cheering me on!"

The moment Nakano Yotsuba received the baton from her teammate, she instantly displayed astonishing explosive power.

The speed in such a short time is astonishing.

Finally, with less than 30 meters from the finish line, she overtook the two teammates in front of her and successfully won first place.

"So what you said, Yukino, was true. She really is fast," Haruno exclaimed from the sidelines.

Yukino remained silent.

Even her expression at that moment was somewhat strange.

She mentally compared herself to Nakano Yotsuba and was surprised to find that she might be faster and more explosive than Yotsuba.

And it's significantly faster.

Is this the benefit of exercise?

Yukino stroked the pendant around her neck, hesitating whether to make a copy of the schedule for her sister and mother.

This comprehensive improvement truly surprised and delighted her.

"I want to keep improving," she murmured.

Haruno looked at her in confusion. "What did you say?"

Feeling the astonishing power within her, Yukino raised her head, her smile radiant and captivating, "I said, I really want to improve."

Haruno: "?"

Chapter 324 I Like You Playing

The Yukino family and the Sawamura family also ate lunch at the school cafeteria.

Since their two families are on good terms now, they simply sat down together.

"I heard Makoto will be playing this afternoon? What kind of competition is he participating in?" Sawamura Sayuri seemed very interested.

Eriri Spencer Sawamura happened to know about this, and as she recalled, she said, "I remember it was first their class's tug-of-war competition, and then Fushimi participated in the individual high jump competition..."

At this point, her small, adorable face was full of confusion. "I heard Ichika and the others say that Fushimi's greatest strengths are his physical abilities, explosiveness, and speed. Logically, he should be participating in running competitions, but he chose high jump instead..."

"Is it just a personal hobby?" Haruno guessed.

Yukino then spoke up, "High jump isn't his hobby."

"Oh? So Yukino knows inside information?" Sawamura Sayuri immediately looked over.

The same applies to others.

Yukino's expression stiffened slightly. She really wanted to complain that the nickname "Yukino" was too childish and immature.

However, she also knew this beautiful woman's personality well; even if she made a comment, the other woman would most likely just smile and say, "Because Yukino so cute~"

Yukino suddenly felt a headache coming on.

If the other person doesn't just call me "Yukino," I should be able to remain calm and composed.

For example, this beautiful woman calls her older sister "Xiao Haruno".

In that way, Yukino would not only feel psychologically balanced, but would even be interested in observing her sister's reaction.

Her thoughts raced for a moment before she said, "Fushimi told me before that he chose the high jump event purely to unlock an achievement."

"Achievements?" No one understood.

"Yes, that's what he said. I don't know the specifics of what that achievement will be, but he said he'll set the best high jump record in the school's history, and we'll unlock that achievement for him just by being witnesses."

"Huh?" Haruno spoke first, her face full of amusement, even putting down her chopsticks. "Isn't this the most annoying riddle teller?"

"The riddle-maker description does fit quite well," Sawamura Sayuri agreed.

Eriri Spencer Sawamura was also muttering to herself, "Why is Fushimi playing mysterious?"

Only Mrs. Yukinoshita calmly said, "He must have his reasons for doing this."

Sawamura Sayuri wasn't surprised at all; instead, she joked, "This isn't a formal occasion, so you can relax a bit."

"I'm already very relaxed."

What I mean is, you can be more lively.

"You mean you want me to be like you? Sorry, I refuse."

Listening to the conversation between the two beautiful women, Haruno secretly tugged at Yukino's sleeve and gestured with her eyes: Aren't Mother and Aunt Sayuri getting along a little too well?

Yukino could certainly understand what her sister meant, but she was too lazy to answer such gossipy questions.

Seeing that she wasn't cooperating, Haruno deliberately chuckled in a low voice, "You're ignoring me, aren't you? Then I'll go chat with Makoto this afternoon."

"Do as you please." Yukino smiled slightly, her smile radiating absolute confidence.

She understands Fushimi Makoto, just as Fushimi Makoto understands her.

Therefore, she was certain that her older sister, with her troublesome personality, was not Fushimi Makoto's type at all.

She could even boldly speculate that, in Fushimi's eyes, someone like her sister wouldn't need to talk for long before he uttered the line, "I'm going to torture you severely."

Yukino heard some news about Utaha being Fushimi Makoto.

Compared to Utaha's occasional quirky sense of humor, her older sister is known for it quite often.

To paraphrase Fushimi Makoto: This is Haruno's passive skill, and it doesn't even have a cooldown!

The afternoon matches will proceed as scheduled.

First up was the team tug-of-war competition for Fushimi Makoto's class, divided into boys' and girls' groups.

Fushimi Makoto watched as Aota wrapped the rope around his waist, and he suddenly felt uneasy. "Are you trying to commit suicide?"

"No, I'm increasing our chances of winning," Aota said confidently.

Hayato Hayama looked over as well, and said with a somewhat helpless smile, "The boys in the class across the way are generally stronger and taller than us. If we can't match their strength, then your method of wrapping the rope around your waist will definitely make you uncomfortable..."

As he spoke, he gestured with his hand. "It's like the rope will tighten more and more until you can't breathe."

To everyone's surprise, Aota replied with a serious expression, "Victory always comes at a price. Hayama, Fushimi, haven't you heard that famous saying?"

Fushimi Makoto and Hayato Hayama exchanged bewildered glances. "What did you say?"

Aota: "Only by being prepared to die can one have the right to wield a sword against the enemy."

Hayato Hayama's lips twitched. This statement was too childish, but his personality prevented him from saying it aloud.

Fushimi Makoto was deeply moved. He patted Aota on the shoulder and said, "So you were already prepared. That's truly admirable."

Aota was all smiles, about to spout some more cringeworthy lines, when he was Fushimi Makoto.

Under his bewildered gaze, Fushimi Makoto said impatiently, "Hurry up and untie the rope."

"Huh? What about the competition then?"

"Don't worry, I'll lead you in the fight," Fushimi Makoto famously said.

Aota subconsciously looked at Hayato Hayama, who smiled and said, "Just listen to him. You can think back to when he made a mistake."

"That's true."

The boys from both classes entered separately. Since this was not a formal competition, there was no pre-match handshake ceremony.

All the girls that Fushimi Makoto knew on the sidelines were watching this side. Even though they didn't find the tug-of-war entertaining, they still watched very attentively.

As for Nakano Yotsuba, she had already jumped up and cheered loudly for Fushimi Makoto.

The school's loudspeaker also broadcasted the news department's voices. "Our school's two most handsome guys, Fushimi and Hayama, have arrived! Unfortunately, their opponent is far too strong; I feel this contest is a foregone conclusion..."

The sound from the radio suddenly disappeared.

About three seconds later, the pleasant female voice exclaimed in surprise, "Huh? What happened? What happened? Why did it end like that?"

On the field, Fushimi Makoto's opponents were equally bewildered, and the teacher who was temporarily acting as referee was also stunned.

You should know that less than a second after he blew the whistle to start the match, the red ribbon symbolizing victory on the rope was instantly pulled towards Fushimi Makoto and his team.