Embarrassed, Mari Watanabe immediately let go of Baifeng Uesugi and took a small step back, putting some distance between them. She then stared at him in disbelief, her eyes full of questions.
It was the first time a boy had ever treated her this way. No one had ever dared to do so before. After all, she was a member of the Public Morals Committee, and no one would be tactless enough to come looking for trouble.
Yet today, Baifeng Uesugi had flirted with her. For some reason, she wasn't angry at all. She was only nervous and embarrassed.
Once she had calmed down a little, Mari Watanabe finally noticed that Baifeng Uesugi could now stand steadily on the board without her support.
"Not bad. You've got talent," Mari Watanabe couldn't help praising him.
"That's mostly because you're a good teacher, Senpai Mari," Baifeng Uesugi replied.
Mari Watanabe gave him an enormous eye roll.
What had she taught him? All she'd done was tell him to stand on the board. She hadn't taught him anything else. How had she only just noticed how glib Baifeng Uesugi was?
The next day...
The men's Surfing Race venue.
"I didn't expect Bai Feng to enter the Surfing Race," Honoka Mitsui said in surprise.
"Mm, I wonder why Bai Feng entered."
Shizuku Kitayama was very curious too. After spending time with Baifeng Uesugi recently, she had found that he was good in every way, except that he was rather lazy and always acted as though things that didn't concern him weren't worth his attention.
There had to be something behind his decision to compete. The thought made Shizuku Kitayama even more curious.
"Look, the race is about to start," Honoka Mitsui said.
"Sorry, sorry, I'm late."
Mayumi Saegusa hurried over as she spoke.
"President Mayumi, what brings you here?"
Miyuki Shiba asked, puzzled.
"Bai Feng is competing, so I came to watch," Mayumi Saegusa explained.
She then sat down beside Miyuki Shiba.
Shizuku Kitayama and Honoka Mitsui both looked at Mayumi Saegusa in puzzlement. She hadn't come to watch the previous competitions, and when a match was important, she watched it from the observation room.
Why had she come to watch at the venue this time?
"Why are you two looking at me like that? The race is about to start. Aren't you going to watch?"
Seeing Honoka Mitsui and Shizuku Kitayama staring at her, Mayumi Saegusa asked in puzzlement.
"Ah, oh, right."
The two came to their senses and quickly turned their attention to the race.
Baifeng Uesugi was in the lead, leaving the other competitors far behind.
"Wow, I didn't expect Bai Feng to be so good at surfing too," Honoka Mitsui said in surprise.
"Hmph."
Miyuki Shiba merely gave a quiet snort. The thought of him spending the previous evening with Mari Watanabe made her feel miserable.
The race soon ended, and Baifeng Uesugi won without any suspense.
"Oh, you're all here."
After the race, Baifeng Uesugi came over to the stands and found quite a crowd there.
"Mm, we came to watch you race," Shizuku Kitayama replied.
"Nice work, Bai Feng."
Mayumi Saegusa gave Baifeng Uesugi a thumbs-up.
"All right, Honoka and Shizuku have their matches next, and I still need to adjust their CADs, so I can't stay and chat."
Baifeng Uesugi sounded helpless.
"Bai Feng, wasn't Tatsuya already put in charge of adjusting the CADs? Why do you still have to do it yourself?" Mayumi Saegusa asked in puzzlement.
"I can't help it. Shizuku insisted that I adjust hers, and since Honoka's match is today too, I figured I'd do both."
Baifeng Uesugi sounded helpless.
"Oh? Bai Feng, why are you so good to Shizuku?"
Mayumi Saegusa looked at Baifeng Uesugi somewhat suspiciously.
"Of course I am. She's my girlfriend, after all."
Baifeng Uesugi pulled Shizuku Kitayama into his arms as he spoke.
"What?"
"What?"
Miyuki Shiba and Mayumi Saegusa both looked shocked at Baifeng Uesugi's words.
"You two... you're together?"
Honoka Mitsui wasn't as surprised as the other two. The two had been spending time alone together these past few days, and she had already guessed something.
"Mm," Shizuku Kitayama replied.
"President Mayumi, Miyuki, do you really have to be so surprised? Don't worry, though. We haven't done anything we shouldn't."
Baifeng Uesugi explained.
Those words made the two feel a little better, but the thought that Shizuku Kitayama had become Baifeng Uesugi's girlfriend in name made them both grit their teeth with resentment. They wanted nothing more than to pounce on Shizuku Kitayama.
But with so many people around, they had to let it go.
On their way to adjust the CADs, Shizuku Kitayama asked quietly.
"Bai Feng, didn't we agree to keep our relationship secret? Why did you tell them yourself?"
Shizuku Kitayama was thoroughly confused. Hadn't they agreed to hide their relationship? Why had he revealed it today? She wasn't ready yet, either. Now she didn't even know how to face them.
"Shizuku, are you blaming me for telling them about our relationship?"
Baifeng Uesugi said aggrievedly.
"No, I'm just not ready yet," Shizuku Kitayama hurriedly explained.
"Speaking of which, when did you two start dating? Even I didn't know."
Honoka Mitsui pouted unhappily.
"Honoka, I'm sorry. I just didn't know how to tell you yet," Shizuku Kitayama said apologetically.
"It's okay. I didn't mean to blame you."
Although Honoka Mitsui said it was fine, she still felt a little jealous.
They had all met at the same time, so why had Shizuku Kitayama already formed this kind of relationship with Baifeng Uesugi while she and Baifeng Uesugi were still just friends?
"All right, Honoka, after I finish adjusting your CAD, I'll go watch your match, okay?"
Baifeng Uesugi could see Honoka Mitsui's disappointment and felt a little helpless. He couldn't help being so charming that so many girls secretly liked him.
"Really?" Honoka Mitsui's disappointment vanished, and she looked at Baifeng Uesugi excitedly for confirmation.
Baifeng Uesugi nodded.
"Then it's a promise," Honoka Mitsui said with a smile.
"Mm."
(P.S. Keep sending "power," keep the happiness coming! As a new author, I thank everyone for your support. I hope you'll click to urge me to update and send some power.
Give a new author a little more encouragement and motivation. Wishing you all happiness and joy in advance!)
Everyone looked at Baifeng Uesugi's shameless expression and inwardly thought of him with disdain.
"All right, then it's settled. Miyuki will withdraw from the newcomers' Mirage Bat and enter the main competition's Mirage Bat instead, while Bai Feng will enter the men's Surfing Race and Monolith Code."
Mayumi Saegusa clapped her hands and announced the decision cheerfully.
However one looked at her expression, it seemed as though the third consecutive championship was already in the bag.
"Wait a minute, President Mayumi. I'm doing Monolith Code too? Shouldn't Tatsuya be the one doing that?"
Hearing Mayumi Saegusa's decision, Baifeng Uesugi felt helpless. How had he ended up stealing Tatsuya Shiba's thunder? He had only said he could enter the Surfing Race.
Wasn't this bullying...?
"But I meant both events when I said it earlier. I can't worry about all that. Anyway, you've already agreed, Bai Feng."
Mayumi Saegusa looked at Baifeng Uesugi with a devilish little smile.
Seeing her expression, Baifeng Uesugi finally realized that Mayumi Saegusa had played a word game with him. She had said he would enter a competition, but hadn't specified which one or whether he would enter them all.
For the school's honor, however, Baifeng Uesugi had no choice but to go along with Mayumi Saegusa's decision.
"All right, then leave the CAD adjustments entirely to Tatsuya. I need some time to prepare for tomorrow's race. After all, as you know, I don't know the first thing about surfing."
Baifeng Uesugi shrugged helplessly.
"That's true. In that case, I agree to your suggestion, Bai Feng. But since you mentioned that you don't know the first thing about surfing, don't we happen to have an expert right here?"
Mayumi Saegusa smiled mischievously as she looked toward Mari Watanabe.
"Mayumi, what do you mean by that? You don't expect me to teach Bai Feng how to surf, do you?"
Mari Watanabe immediately understood what Mayumi Saegusa meant and spoke with some disbelief.
"That's right. You're still recuperating and have nothing to do anyway, so why not be Bai Feng's private instructor for once?"
Mayumi Saegusa urged her.
"Well... all right." Mari Watanabe looked at Baifeng Uesugi, feeling a little nervous. At the same time, she remembered what Mayumi Saegusa had told her in the hospital room.
"That works for me. Then let's start now, Senpai Mari. The men's surfing race is tomorrow, after all."
Baifeng Uesugi wasn't particularly opposed to having Mari Watanabe teach him to surf. Although she had suspended him for a week when they first met, that had also indirectly made things convenient for him.
More importantly, Mari Watanabe had a lot of style. If she dressed up a little or had long hair, she would be an older beauty sure to charm countless boys.
As Baifeng Uesugi indulged in his fantasies, he suddenly found himself under two icy gazes.
A chill ran down his spine, and his body shuddered a few times.
Baifeng Uesugi instinctively looked toward Mayumi Saegusa and Miyuki Shiba and found them both giving him death stares.
"Ahem, why are you two looking at me like that?"
Bai Feng Uegami asked awkwardly.
He was also full of regret. How could he have let his fantasies show on his face in front of Mayumi Saegusa and Miyuki Shiba, who knew him so well? They could tell at a glance.
As for Tatsuya Shiba, Baifeng Uesugi would never believe he could guess what had just been going through his mind.
"Bai Feng, be good and learn to surf, okay? If I find out you've been up to anything, hmph, hmph, hmph..."
Baifeng Uesugi immediately felt a chill below the waist.
"Bai Xue, make sure you remember what President Mayumi said. Otherwise..."
Miyuki Shiba's threat followed right after Mayumi Saegusa's. Baifeng Uesugi was already feeling a little chilly, and with Miyuki Shiba losing control of her emotions and unintentionally releasing Psions, the meeting room was now bitterly cold.
"Um, Miyuki, rein it in a little. There are still a lot of people here."
Baifeng Uesugi reminded her.
But why did he feel as though he was henpecked? And not by one person, but two. Yet they weren't his wives...
"Ah, I'm sorry, everyone."
Baifeng Uesugi's reminder made Miyuki Shiba realize that she had lost control of her emotions, causing frost to slowly form around her. She hurriedly reined in her Psions and bowed in apology.
"Uh... Miyuki, it's fine, but what do you mean by what you said? I don't understand."
Mari Watanabe still hadn't understood what Mayumi Saegusa and Miyuki Shiba were saying.
"Ahem, Senpai Mari, you don't need to know. It's getting late, so let's hurry and get started."
With that, he pulled Mari Watanabe out of the meeting room at lightning speed.
Mayumi Saegusa and Miyuki Shiba watched them leave, clenching their fists and gritting their teeth.
The competition comes first, the competition comes first. The competition is the top priority, Mayumi Saegusa reassured herself.
Hoo, hoo, don't be angry. Brother Bai Feng has always been a lecher. I'm used to it, used to it, Miyuki Shiba likewise reassured herself.
"President Mayumi, we'll be going now."
Miyuki Shiba said goodbye.
"Mm, goodbye, Miyuki, Tatsuya."
Baifeng Uesugi brought Mari Watanabe to the training ground.
"Senpai Mari, what do I need to do?"
Baifeng Uesugi asked as he approached Mari Watanabe carrying a board.
"First, get a feel for your balance. Put the board in the water, then stand on it. Leave the rest to me."
Mari Watanabe said.
"Okay, Senpai Mari."
After Baifeng Uesugi stepped onto the board, Mari Watanabe took his hand.
Senpai Mari's hand is so soft, and warm too.
As he held Mari Watanabe's hand, Baifeng Uesugi instinctively scratched her palm.
"You... what are you doing?"
(P.S. Keep sending "power," keep the happiness coming! As a new author, I thank everyone for your support. I hope you'll click to urge me to update and send some power.
Give a new author a little more encouragement and motivation. Wishing you all happiness and joy in advance!)