Chapter 181 – Special Tennis Training
"Alright then, let's start with warm-ups."
After finishing the morning National History exam, during the lunch break, as planned yesterday afternoon, the three members of the Service Club and Totsuka Saika changed into sports clothes and gathered at the tennis court.
"Uh… but doing strenuous exercise right after eating…"
Dragged there by Yuigahama Yui against his will, Hikigaya Hachiman raised his hand and voiced his concern.
"There's no problem. In fact, it's because we just ate that we need exercise to digest."
Yukinoshita was dressed in a light pink professional tennis outfit, looking full of determination. At that moment, she gripped a racket in one hand while facing the three standing before her.
She then announced the start of their first special training session and led them running laps around the tennis court.
"Good thing there's barely anyone at the tennis courts around noon…"
With a lifeless expression, Hachiman trudged along behind Yukinoshita. Running earnest laps around a tennis court at lunch, when everyone else was resting…
"Ugh, I can't do it anymore…"
After just two laps, a wail came from behind him.
The one who had declared herself defeated wasn't the frail-looking Totsuka Saika—though Saika was gasping, drenched in sweat, and visibly exhausted, he still clenched his teeth and followed behind Yukinoshita and Hachiman.
The one crying out was none other than the most enthusiastic participant earlier—Yuigahama Yui.
She stumbled after them, then finally collapsed down against the wire fence at the edge of the court, looking like her soul was leaving her body, ready to ascend to heaven.
"..."
Yukinoshita gave her a silent glance, sighed, then signaled with her eyes to Hachiman before turning back and continuing to run.
"You okay?"
Receiving Yukinoshita's signal, Hachiman stopped running and went over to check on Yuigahama.
"Uuuh, my shoulders are so sore…"
Her head seemed dizzy from the run. Tiny beads of sweat covered her forehead as she furrowed her brows, gasping with her lips slightly parted. At the same time, she raised her arm to hold her shoulder…
Smack!
Without hesitation, Hachiman slapped her on the head, trying to snap her out of it.
"Hikki, that's so mean…"
Covering the spot where he hit her, Yuigahama pouted. Even when she was this worn out, he still bullied her.
"This was just a necessary measure to wake you up."
After saying that, Hachiman pressed his palm lightly to her forehead. It looked like he was checking her condition, but in reality, he was channeling spiritual energy into her, helping her rapidly recover her stamina.
"Eh?"
Just moments ago she had been dizzy and sluggish, but suddenly, Yuigahama felt her mind clear and her body brimming with energy.
Startled, she stood up, moving around experimentally.
"I'm totally back to normal?"
"Seems like you recovered pretty fast…"
Hachiman stood as well, glancing at Yuigahama bouncing back to life, then turned to observe the other two still running.
"That's the fifth lap already, right? Is Totsuka really okay?"
Behind Yukinoshita, Saika could only be described as barely hanging on. And yet, he remained silent, persistently trailing her.
Finally, Yukinoshita stopped.
"Let's rest for five minutes. After that, we'll move on to arm strength training…"
Though she herself was breathing a little heavily, she looked back at Saika, who had collapsed on the ground, and a flicker of surprise passed through her eyes. She hadn't expected Saika to actually push through.
While Yuigahama went to help Saika to the side to rest, Yukinoshita called Hachiman aside and asked about last night.
"Did something happen yesterday?"
Her tone wasn't one of curiosity—it carried certainty that something had happened.
"…Yeah, there was something, but it's been dealt with."
It was easy enough to fool Yuigahama, but concealing things from Yukinoshita was much harder. And once a lie is told, countless more are needed to cover it.
Unwilling to bother with such trouble, Hachiman simply nodded and admitted it directly.
"You know that's not the answer I'm looking for…"
Yukinoshita sighed helplessly, fixing her gaze on him.
She already knew something had happened last night—why else would Hachiman show up at her apartment in the middle of the night to give her the necklace?
What she truly wanted was for him to explain exactly what went on.
"I fought someone really strong. And I won."
"…You're not hurt?"
If Hachiman himself described the opponent as "really strong," then that enemy must have been formidable. Yukinoshita's heart began pounding faster, and she carefully studied him for any injuries.
"Of course not."
Even if he had been hurt, with the Sessho-seki's recovery ability, after a night and a morning his wounds would have already healed. There was no way Yukinoshita could find anything amiss.
"I see… that's good then."
She nodded in relief.
The five-minute break passed quickly.
As soon as time was up, Yukinoshita walked toward Saika and Yuigahama, urging them to resume training.
"Yukinon, maybe we should rest a little longer?"
Seeing Saika still looking exhausted, Yuigahama pleaded softly.
"No."
Yukinoshita rejected the idea instantly.
"If we rest too long, the warm-up we just did will go to waste. Then, when training resumes, the risk of injury will rise dramatically."
"I'm fine, Yuigahama-san…"
Yuigahama wanted to argue more, but Saika stopped her.
Forcing himself up on shaky legs, he smiled at Yukinoshita.
"Please start the next training, Yukinoshita-san!"
"…No, I think we'd better wait a little."
Seeing how unsteady his legs were, Yukinoshita reconsidered.
She had thought he made it through warm-ups thanks to decent physical fitness combined with strong willpower. But it turned out he had only gotten through on sheer determination…
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