Episode 317: All Out

Currently, first aid is being performed on Natsumi-senpai at Rinka High School’s bench side. Beside that work, the advisor and Natsumi-senpai are talking. They’re likely consulting about whether to continue the match.

Watching the scene from the stands, the advisor sighs. Then Natsumi-senpai slowly stands up.

She’s gripping her favorite racket, which is likely a declaration that she’s returning to the court. It seems they’ve reached the conclusion to continue.

「Natsumi-san!!」

「Natsumi!!」

「Yuzuki-senpai!!」

「Natsumi-senpai!!」

Calling out to Natsumi-senpai as she returns to the court, she gives a huge smile, almost as if saying「I’m okay.」

But… even so.

「Kazunari… if I judge it’s too much next time, I’m going onto the court. I don’t care if it’s a disqualification or whatever, I’m taking Natsumi-san to the infirmary. If that’s not enough, I’ll take her to a hospital.」

「Yuji…」

If that time comes, he won’t hesitate to take forceful action. I feel his clear determination in Yuji’s strong tone and gaze.

It’s true that if Yuji, who isn’t a participant, enters the court, it’ll stop. And if he takes Natsumi-senpai away, there’s no doubt she’ll be disqualified.

But I can’t stop him, and I don’t intend to.

If this were Sara-san, I know I wouldn’t be able to stay calm either.

「…You’re right. If it’s Tachibana-san’s doing, Natsumi will probably listen. If anyone around us complains, I’ll shut them up even if I have to use my Student Council authority.」

It sounds a bit dangerous, but these are reliable words of agreement from Sara-san.

Yuji isn’t the only one worried, I am too, and Sara-san too. Everyone’s the same.

「Understood… do what you want, Yuji.」

「Well, I don’t think anyone would object.」

「Yeah. We’re all worried about Yuzuki-senpai!」

「Yuzuki-senpai’s health is more important than a match.」

「I won’t let anyone complain.」

「If you’re taking her to a hospital, I can get things ready right away?」

Yuji nods silently at our support.

He stares intently at Natsumi-senpai with that determined gaze.

But I hope… I hope she can somehow play through to the end.

That’s surely what the person herself, Natsumi-senpai, wants most.

「Everyone, cheer with everything you’ve got!!」

「「「 OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! 」」」

The fan club raises a fierce shout and resumes their even more intense cheering.

「Natsumi-san!!」

And Yuji shouts loudly, loud enough to rival that massive cheer.

Hearing that, Natsumi-senpai, who had been staring straight ahead, nods quietly. She slowly prepares to serve.

「Haaah!!」

Baaaaaaaang!!

A flash of pure spirit!!

Natsumi-senpai’s powerful serve, showing no sign of the injury’s impact, pierces the opponent’s court. This time she starts taking steps properly after landing, rhythmically kicking the ground with her injured right foot.

Pang!!

When the opponent fires a solid return, Natsumi-senpai reacts quickly and hits it back. Honestly, as much as we wanted a quick victory, the rally we didn’t want begins.

Pang!!

Pang!!

Natsumi-senpai’s agile movements still show no sign of the injury. But it’s certain that the longer the rally goes, the more the burden on her foot increases.

Hah!?

For a second, Natsumi-senpai’s initial step is delayed as if she slipped.

It only looked like she「slipped.」But considering it was her right foot, maybe…

「Guh…」

Against the ball returning with momentum, Natsumi-senpai, her movements broken, desperately reaches with her racket. But unfortunately she can’t catch it perfectly, and the ball only changes its trajectory upon contact.

「Fifteen-Thirty!!」

The score call is announced, and the deflected ball rolls right in front of us.

Natsumi-senpai walks over to pick it up, so I should give her some encouragement.

「Natsumi-san!!」

「…Yuji?」

I wasn’t the only one thinking that, I’m sure everyone was planning to encourage her too.

But Yuji calls out earlier than anyone else, and as they stare at each other, it looks like they’re creating an unreadable atmosphere.

So we, and those around us, just watch silently as if swallowed by their vibe.

「Is your foot really okay?」

「…It’s fine. This happens all the time.」

「I see.」

「Yeah. So…」

「Wrong. I’m saying I see it’s not okay?」

「Ugh.」

「It’s not actually okay, is it?」

「U… well, that’s…」

Faced with Yuji’s assertive tone, Natsumi-senpai is already starting to buckle.

While this is a familiar sight to us, it must be quite rare for the fan club members. And naturally.

「…He-Hey… Natsumi-chan’s acting kind of…」

「…Right, a bit different from usual…」

「…Is it because he’s a guy friend?」

「…But if you say that, she’s her usual self with Takanashi-kun and Yokogawa-kun, right?」

「…Y-You’re right about that…」

When Natsumi-senpai is with Yuji, her usual「Big sister」persona vanishes and her「Maiden」side comes out.

The better you know the usual Natsumi-senpai, the more clearly you’ll feel the difference.

「I’m telling you now. If I judge you won’t make it, I’m stopping you even if I have to crash the match. I’ll take you straight to the infirmary.」

「Wait…」

「And for the record, I’m not joking.」

「Yuji!! I am definitely going to finish this match…」

「So… finish it quickly.」

「…Yuji?」

「It’s simple. If you’re worried about your foot, just end the match soon. If you go for a quick victory, the chance of being able to play to the end increases, right?」

「Guh…」

No matter what he says, Yuji likely understands what Natsumi-senpai wants. He understands her desire to finish this match.

So this is Yuji’s compromise.

If you don’t want the match stopped, win immediately. Yuji’s proposal.

「Oh, don’t worry. I’ll carry you to the infirmary bridal style.」

「Hah!?」

「Carrying you bridal style to the infirmary in front of everyone…」

「D-D-Don’t be stupid!! That’s not funny!!」

When teased like this by Yuji, Natsumi-senpai immediately gets worked up.

Her face is bright red, and Natsumi-senpai’s「Maiden」side is completely exposed. But this might be a bit bad right now.

「「「………」」」

Checking the surroundings secretly, especially the fan club members are frozen with shocked expressions. Well, I guess that’s expected.

I’m used to these reactions because of Sara-san.

「If you hate that, then you just have to win quickly, right? Besides, I still haven’t seen your supposed super play yet?」

At Yuji’s blatant provocation, Natsumi-senpai gives a fearless smirk.

「…Fine. I hear you. I’ll show you my full power. Instead… give me a reward once I win, okay?」

「Sure, I don’t mind. Either way, it’ll probably be like a reward for me too?」

He accepted the reward quite easily, does Yuji have something in mind? Wait!

Don’t tell me… that?

「Hmph, you sound pretty confident, but I’ll definitely make you eat those words later. Besides, we’ve already got Takanashi-kun for that kind of public embarrassment!!」

「Wait!?」

I intended to just watch, but I couldn’t help but quip after being told something ridiculous.

What the heck was that!?

「Natsumi, what does that mean? Why bring up Kazunari-san…」

「I mean, you’re always doing it in public, aren’t you?」

「Don’t lump me in with something so low-level. My actions are entirely out of love for Kazunari-san. Besides, the sight of Kazunari-san acting spoiled with me is so adorable that…」

「Wait, Sara-san, stop!! Stop!!」

I feel the lukewarm stares from everyone around us hit me directly!!

Hold on, why has my public embarrassment started all of a sudden!?

「Player Yuzuki!! Please return to the court!!」

A helping hand(?) is extended to me, and Natsumi-senpai turns back in a panic at the umpire’s sharp warning. Had she forgotten the situation?

「Yuji, you better watch!!」

「Yeah. I’m watching closely.」

Leaving that final word, Natsumi-senpai returns to the court.

But thinking calmly, if this were an official match or a tournament, they’d be in serious trouble.

…I’m glad she only got a warning.

「He-Hey, Takanashi-kun…」

「About Natsumi-chan and that guy…」

「What’s going on…?」

If you’re shown a scene like that, people are bound to notice. But I can’t be the one to say it.

「Stop the chatter!! Resuming the cheers!!」

「「「 OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! 」」」

A call to resume cheering comes at a nice timing, and the topic is left vague.

It won’t be forgotten, but I’m honestly glad it was put off. Anyway, since things have turned out like this, I’m sure Natsumi-senpai will act.

Maybe Yuji said that bold thing on purpose to give her a push?

Natsumi-senpai bows to the umpire and her opponent, and the call to restart the match is announced.

It seems no penalty was given, so I’m really glad this isn’t an official match.

That said, the earlier exchange didn’t fix her foot, and the problem remains unchanged.

「Phew…」

Natsumi-senpai wipes her sweat and takes her serving stance.

Come to think of it, she seems to be sweating a lot.

She takes one big, deep breath, stares straight at her opponent, then throws the ball up.

「Hah!!」

Baaaaaaaang!!

Just like before, she fires a beautiful serve that doesn’t show her injury, and Natsumi-senpai steps into place to wait for the return.

She said she’d go for a quick victory, but it’s not that convenient.

Pang!!

Matching the opponent’s return, Natsumi-senpai starts running with spirit. She swings through the racket with perfect timing while backing up slightly.

Pang!!

Natsumi-senpai’s return also gains distance the moment it bounces, and the opponent hits it back while backing up. In a way, the long-distance rally we want to avoid most begins. That increases the distance she has to move, so for Natsumi-senpai with her injured foot.

「It’s tough for Natsumi-senpai if they keep hitting deep. But this is a match…」

Even if they target her weakness, she can’t complain. She entered the match knowing everything.

Hah!!

Right after the opponent fires a return, Natsumi-senpai suddenly starts running to a spot further forward than before.

But that position looks too far forward.

「That’s… Natsumi-senpai.」

Just as Hayato mutters something, the moment the opponent’s ball bounces… matching the timing when it’s just started to rise, Natsumi-senpai suddenly hits it from a low stance!?

「A rising shot that low!?」

Hayato shouts a name I’ve never heard before Surprised.

And the ball flies with a momentum you wouldn’t expect from such a difficult-looking position. The sudden surprise attack completely delays the opponent’s initial step. They won’t make it in time!!

「Thirty-All!!」

「「 Ohhh… 」」

「「「 KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!! 」」」

「「「 NATSUMI NATSUMI NA-TSU-MI, NICE!!! 」」」

A stir from the stands and a massive cheer from the fan club.

Honestly, I didn’t quite understand it either. But there’s no doubt she hit it at a completely different timing than usual.

「Hayato, what was that?」

「That’s called a rising shot, a shot where you hit the ball as it’s rising from the bounce. But hitting it from such a low position is tough in terms of practicality. You’re more likely to fail. Of course, if you pull it off, it’s easier to break the opponent’s rhythm, and you can save on movement distance.」

「I see.」

「To be precise, both Natsumi-senpai and I have hit rising shots a few times before. But that low… pulling that off in a real match, she really is Natsumi-senpai.」

So that’s it.

If she avoided using it because of the low success rate, this might’ve been one of Natsumi-senpai’s trump cards.

Anyway, that’s amazing!

「Oh, Yuzuki-senpai is smiling.」

Looking where Tachikawa-san said, Natsumi-senpai is smirking and giving a secret thumbs up at her waist. She really pulled it off, I guess?

Her first point celebration of the day.

「Now the real work begins. Considering the burden on her foot, she’ll want to avoid a deuce. Natsumi-senpai has to score points consecutively.」

Just as Hayato said, from here on, if the opponent gets even one point, it’ll result in a deuce whether she’s leading or chasing.

That would prolong the match, so she really needs to get consecutive points and end the duel in one go.

「Phew…」

Natsumi-senpai likely understands that best. She starts taking deep breaths before her serve to calm her mind.

「Hah!!」

Baaaaaaaang!!

Natsumi-senpai fires a serve, and the opponent hits it back firmly.

In response, Natsumi-senpai again starts running toward the ball’s landing spot. That’s!

Hup!!

Pang!!

Just like before, a rising shot targeting the ball as it starts to rise!

She swings through the racket firmly, and the returned ball heads straight for the opponent’s court with bullet-like speed.

But the other side seemed wary of it too, as they reached it and fired a solid return this time.

Pang!!

Targeting the landing spot of the returning ball, Natsumi-senpai again closes the distance. This time she twists her body, as if storing up power.

「Backhand!」

Hayato’s voice overlaps with the ball’s bounce, and Natsumi-senpai explodes the stored power all at once. The rising shot swung through grandly with her whole body heads for a difficult spot near the line with ferocious speed.

The opponent’s posture can’t keep up with the consecutive speed plays, and their initial step is clearly delayed!!

「Forty-Thirty!!」

「「「 KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!! 」」」

「Natsumi-chan!!!!」

「Yuzuki-senpai, do your best!!!!!!!!」

「Natsumi, one more step!!!!!!!!」

The stands overflow with a desperate Natsumi-call that almost sounds pained, and even the fan club stops their cheering song. It’s overflowing with Natsumi-calls.

「Natsumi!! Decide it on the next one!!」

「Natsumi-senpai!! Special move!!」

Even Sara-san and Hanako-san, who had been cheering calmly until now, shout encouragement to Natsumi-senpai. We follow with our own full-power support.

Because… Natsumi-senpai is unnaturally out of breath, and we can clearly see she’s sweating a lot.

Because we can tell clearly that she’s desperately enduring the pain.

So we shout desperately too!

「Natsumi-senpai, go for it!!!」

「Natsumi, show some grit!!」

「Yuzuki-senpai!!!!」

「Yuzuki-senpai, good luck!!」

「Natsumi-senpai, one more step!!」

Natsumi-senpai seems to have all her senses focused, as she doesn’t show any reaction even to our voices. She steadies her breathing, stares straight ahead… and braces for her serve.

In that moment…

「Natsumi-san!!!」

Natsumi-senpai, who hadn’t reacted at all, seems to give a small smile only to Yuji’s voice.

「Aaaaaaaaagh!!!」

BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANG!!!!

Today’s best… no, this is the most intense and powerful serve I’ve ever seen from Natsumi-senpai.

The ball launched from the racket ferociously attacks the opponent’s court after clearing the net, its momentum even bringing Hayato’s bullet serves to mind.

Even so, the opponent matches the timing perfectly and slams their racket against the ball with spirit.

Ugh!?

But the moment they tried to swing through, I felt their movement suddenly shake half-heartedly.

They couldn’t swing through cleanly, and it looked like they were pushed by the ball’s momentum.

「It’s a chance!!」

At the same time as or even earlier than Hayato’s shout, Natsumi-senpai rushes forward all at once. She charges toward the ball coming back high.

This is!?

「Natsumi-san, GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!」

An intense roar that even I, who’ve known Yuji longer than anyone, am hearing for the first time.

Pushed by that voice, Natsumi-senpai winds up big with a jump.

Directly like this!?

「Hah!!」

With her whole body’s strength, the momentum of her charge, and the power of the jump added, this is likely Natsumi-senpai’s absolute best.

BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANG!!

The ball she slammed everything into flies with momentum that, as far as I can see, is equal to a smash. Plus, the trajectory rapidly curves downward. It pierces the court and keeps its momentum even after the bounce, heading toward a spot where no one is.

The opponent doesn’t even try to reach it, just watching it go as if they’ve already given up.

「Drive volley…」

While the stands fall silent, the cool move name Hayato muttered lingers in my ears.

But more importantly right now, the result… the result is.

「Game set!!! Match won by Yuzuki…」

「Ya…」

「WE DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!」

「SHE WON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!」

「「「 KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!! 」」」

A roar that could split the air envelopes the court, and the fan club’s frenzy and the spectators’ applause overflow.

We all celebrate Natsumi-senpai’s victory together, and I high-five Yuji and Hayato at the same time. Right after that, I try to hug Sara-san who’s lunged at me, only to have Hanako-san hug me from behind.

But…

Contrary to our elation.

Natsumi-senpai slowly collapses. Sinking down onto the court.

「Natsumi!!」

「Natsumi-chan!!」

Surrounded by the advisor and club members who rushed from the bench, Natsumi-senpai shows a faint smile. She’s rubbing her right ankle with her hand while giving proper responses.

She doesn’t seem able to stand up yet, though.

「Yuji!?」

「Tachibana-kun!?」

Hayato and Todo-san shout in surprise, and when I check on Yuji, he’s already headed for the court before I knew it.

Probably gathering the attention of everyone here, he walks slowly with a tense face.

At the end of his path are the tennis club members and advisor frozen with shocked expressions, and only Natsumi-senpai is there with a strained face.

I knew it would end up like this.

But it’s your turn to work hard next… Yuji?