<63> Everyday Life After the Match

Chapter 63: Everyday Life After the Match

As they were leaving Seiwa Junior High School, Sendo overheard people from Seiwa commenting on two girls. They said Wakana was cute and had a nice figure, and that Fumino was as adorable as a fairy but lacked any "feminine charm," which was a shame.

Hearing this, Fumino nearly turned around to confront them. Sendo quickly held her back, preventing an impending disaster.

Then they heard someone else agreeing, saying, "If you ignore the clothes and hair, you wouldn't even be able to tell if she was a boy or a girl!"

"What does that mean? Are they saying I don't look feminine at all?" Fumino muttered angrily under her breath.

At that moment, Fumino stopped struggling, but her aura darkened. Sensing her mood, Sendo held her even tighter.

Sure enough, seconds later, Fumino began thrashing with renewed vigor, but the group from Seiwa was deep in conversation and hadn't noticed this scene unfolding behind them.

Without a second thought, Sendo tightened his grip, lifted Fumino into a bridal carry, and quickly whisked her away.

The others hurried to keep up, but Fumino soon stopped struggling, her face blushing with a mix of embarrassment and bashfulness.

"You're still crying?" Sendo teased Sawamura on the train ride back.

"Shut up!"

"Even though it's nice to see you all excited, I need to bring you down to earth," Sendo said. Hearing this, the lively conversation about today's match died down.

"We're lacking in match experience. There were too many mistakes, our movements were stiff, and our nerves were too fragile. Also, Shin!"

"What was that mistake at the end? You threw the ball backward! Were you trying to give everyone a heart attack?"

"Sen-chan…! I'm sorry!"

"But this match was good for us. It gave us clear areas to work on."

"And Eijun, we'll start practicing some basic pick-off throws when we get back!"

"Though we had bad luck in this game, we managed to hold our ground thanks to Eijun and our aggressive play in the first inning. Let's be grateful we have an ace who can energize the team with his pitching!"

"When we get back, we'll go over the footage from this game. Then, starting tomorrow, let's train like our lives depend on it!"

"Uh… Sen-chan, do you have to put it so terrifyingly? What kind of training is it, exactly?" Ohno asked nervously.

"It's a secret! But don't worry, I won't really work you to death. Otherwise, I'd be in trouble come the fall tournament. Now, feel free to keep discussing the match!"

Even though he said that, the earlier tension had dampened everyone's enthusiasm, and no one was in the mood to discuss it anymore.

Sendo stayed quiet after that, but no one noticed the sly grin he gave as he turned away.

…

After they got off the train, Sendo, Wakana, and Fumino went shopping for groceries, while the others headed back on their own.

When they returned to the villa, the team was still watching the game footage.

"Hey! You're still watching? How many times has it been?"

"Don't know, but we realized how awful our performance was!" Shin said.

"Yeah! I wish I could go back and give myself a good lecture!" Sawamura shouted.

"Alright, then keep watching! The more you resent your past self, the better!"

"Huh? What are you saying, you jerk! We're already regretting it, and you're still messing with us!" Sawamura bristled at Sendo's teasing.

"By doing this, you'll remember the shame… isn't that right?" Sendo finished his sentence with a dramatic pause.

"Huh?" Sawamura was taken aback.

"That's true! Alright, I'll keep watching until I burn a hole through the TV!"

"The TV isn't going to get a hole, baka!" Sendo retorted, then turned to the two girls.

"Tonight, let's have everyone over to my place. It's big enough for all of us!"

"Put the groceries in the fridge first, and later I'll treat everyone to a BBQ. I'll get started on marinating the meat and preparing the sauce soon!"

"What time tonight?" Wakana asked, a bit shyly.

"After dark... around eight-ish, after everyone's showered and settled."

"Got it!" Wakana replied.

"Ugh, I'm exhausted!" Sendo mumbled to himself as he headed to the kitchen.

"Give me a break, we're the ones who played! All you did was sit on the bench!" Sawamura's ears perked up, and he immediately retorted.

"Exactly! Sitting for so long wore me out!"

"You little—!" Sawamura raised a fist.

"What?" Sendo turned around with a deadly aura, and Sawamura instantly froze.

"Uh, nothing! Just, uh, watch your step!" Sawamura stammered, backing down.

"Right, okay!" Sendo replied, unfazed.

"Unbelievable! This guy always picks on me!" Sawamura muttered, casting a sideways glare as Sendo left.

"Well, that's why you're popular, Ei-chan."

"Really? Yeah, that's right! That's totally it!" Sawamura was satisfied, then went back to watching the replay.

"Oh, right!" he suddenly said, startling everyone nearby.

"What's up, Ei-chan?" someone asked, surprised.

"Wakana, why are you going to Sendo's room tonight?"

"Oh, um… I've been focusing so much on practice lately, so Aki's helping me catch up on schoolwork!"

"Ugh, studying…" Sawamura lost interest instantly.

"What, worried?"

"Worried? About what?"

"Nothing!" Wakana replied, surrendering to Sawamura's innocent expression.

In that instant, she understood why Sendo loved teasing him so much — and why he occasionally wanted to give him a good smack!

Turning back, Wakana saw Fumino stifling a laugh.

Suddenly, Wakana playfully attempted the "legendary dragon claw grip," only to come up empty.

"Huh?" She looked down at her hand, utterly puzzled, which only made Fumino burst out laughing — sparking the disaster that Sendo had narrowly avoided earlier.

Wakana quickly realized what she'd done, darting off as Fumino chased her around for ages.

"If you keep chasing me, I'll tell Aki you like him! Didn't you get your fill today with all that hugging and carrying?" Wakana taunted as she fled up the stairs, out of everyone's earshot.

"Hey! I'll tell Sawamura you like him, don't think I didn't notice!" Fumino shot back, not missing a beat.

After a few more steps, both of them stopped, letting out a collective sigh.

They plopped down by the wall, feeling drained.

"That idiot," Wakana muttered.

"That thick-headed jerk," Fumino added.

"Ah-choo!" Downstairs, both Sawamura watching the footage and Sendo handling food in the kitchen sneezed simultaneously.

"Someone's talking about me!" they both said at the same time.

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