"You misheard me. It's just a verbal habit! A filler phrase. 'Whoa' was just an instinctive reaction-it wasn't directed at anyone."
"What does that mean? I don't get it."
"Huh? Are you going back on your word, big brother?"
The others hadn't understood and continued eyeing Tetsuhiro suspiciously.
He could only explain patiently, "It's like how you say 'holy shit,' 'I'm speechless,' or 'damn.'"
"Then why did you specifically say 'whoa'?" Kyoko asked hesitantly.
"It's just a personal habit. Who knew someone like her existed, let alone that I'd happen to run into her?"
"That doesn't add up, big brother. After saying 'whoa,' you added, 'It couldn't be her, could it?'"
"How do you explain that? Did you already know about her? Were you interested in her?" Seeing that Tetsuhiro was about to talk his way out of it, Naoko hurriedly stirred up fresh trouble.
"That's right. What's that about?" Everyone desperately wanted an answer.
"Do you actually like me? Why does it feel like you're setting me up?" Tetsuhiro gave Naoko a long, penetrating look, making her lower her head guiltily.
Only then did he answer, "Yes, I've heard of her. She's an excellent swimmer, but her teaching philosophy and methods were wrong. She lost sight of why she started. I thought it was a shame, so I paid a little attention."
"Ohhh, so that's what happened."
That did make sense to them. When someone suddenly heard a familiar name, naturally they would try to remember where they'd heard it.
Only then did their hostility ease a little.
Kyoko said nothing more, either.
Tetsuhiro hurriedly tried to pull himself free of Naoko's breasts to make his position clear.
But how could she let go so easily?
No matter how he struggled or tried to pry himself loose, she clung