Episode 70: Tennis Club

After that incident, those idiots stopped involving themselves with me.

Instead, they sometimes give me hostile looks, but I don’t care about that level of thing.

「Good morning, Takanashi-kun.」

「Mornin’~」

「Good morning.」

The two from Natsumi-senpai’s fan club treat me the same as before.

When I thanked them the other day, they actually thanked me for getting angry.

Apparently, from the fan club’s perspective, I ended up protecting Natsumi-senpai.

So I’m avoiding total isolation, at least.

Thwack.

A pleasant sound rings out.

Before my eyes right now, Natsumi-senpai is practicing tennis.

After school, invited by Sara-senpai, I came to the tennis court.

Natsumi-senpai has a practice match with another school this weekend, so she’s practicing in match format for it.

Honestly, I’ve never actually seen tennis before and hardly know the rules.

For now, it’s just about winning if you get the set points first.

「Kyaa! Natsumi-senpai!」

「So cool, amazing!」

That group of girls in the corner is definitely the fan club.

What’s interesting is they go silent while she’s playing.

Is it a manner thing?

Also, I noticed girls cheering at the boys’ court too.

Is there some popular guy there?

「Natsumi-senpai is strong.」

「Yes, Natsumi has the skill to reach the top in tournaments. There probably isn’t a student in this school who can be her opponent.」

Actually, she seems to have won in straight sets without giving up a single point.

「Takanashi-san, if you’d like, why don’t you come with me next Sunday to cheer for Natsumi? Ah, of course, if you have prior plans, please prioritize those.」

As long as I can be with Senpai, I have no plans more important than that.

「I’m fine with it. I’ve never seen a tennis match before, so I’m looking forward to it. I’d like to see Natsumi-senpai’s brave figure too.」

When I agreed, Senpai smiled happily.

「I’m glad. Then, since I want to surprise Natsumi, let’s not tell her we’re coming to cheer. Since it’s a secret for just the two of us, you mustn’t tell Natsumi, okay?」

Senpai peers into my face with a mischievous expression while telling me this.

A secret for just the two of us…

The content aside, the ring of it and Senpai’s expression were so cute that I felt the embarrassment was about to show on my face.

Ugh… since that conversation with Yuji, I know I’ve been overreacting.

Looking at Sara-senpai’s smile or this kind of rare expression, she looks even cuter than before and it’s embarrassing.

「? Fufu… is something wrong, Takanashi-san?」

Senpai is quite sharp, she’s quick to notice changes in my complexion or mood.

The saving grace is she’s dense about romance.

That just makes me writhe unconsciously…

「Haa, I’m tired. but I’m in great shape, great shape.」

Natsumi-senpai comes over with a towel in one hand.

「Good work, Natsumi-senpai.」

「Natsumi, good work.」

When we called out, she grinned.

「Thanks, you two. But as usual, you get along so well. Hey Takanashi-kun, how was my tennis seeing it for the first time? I’m not half bad, right?」

Natsumi-senpai pokes my arm with her elbow as if to tease me.

I’ve never been treated like that by a woman, so I was flustered.

I really wish she’d stop teasing me…

「Natsumi, Takanashi-san is troubled…」

Senpai saw my state and tried to warn Natsumi-senpai, but she was interrupted by a voice from the side.

「Yuzuki-senpai, you’re in good shape as usual.」

…What’s with this refreshing type of handsome guy…

He doesn’t feel like a playboy, but he feels strangely refreshing, or rather, like he’s full of himself, so I honestly don’t like him.

Looking behind him, a group of girls is following him.

Apparently, he’s the one who was being cheered for in boys’ tennis.

「You seem the same as ever too. Will you be okay for the next match?」

「Yes, I’ll definitely win.」

…What is this inferiority complex… I feel like I’ve lost in all sorts of ways.

「Satsukawa-senpai, good work. If you’d like, for the next match, mine too…」

「I am not free enough to go out of my way to cheer for someone I have no interest in. Or rather, I have no reason to be spoken to so familiarly.」

Senpai cut him down so cleanly it felt good… I feel small for being happy about it… but I can’t help it.

「Natsumi, since there’s an interruption, we’ll be leaving now. Come, Takanashi-san, shall we go home?」

When she turns toward me, Senpai smiles.

「Sorry, Sara. Takanashi-kun, thanks for today! I’d be happy if you came to watch again.」

「Yes, Natsumi-senpai, good luck.」

「Yep, see you tomorrow~」

Natsumi-senpai waved to see us off, so I waved back.

In my field of vision, that handsome guy appeared.

Is he looking at me? What is it?