Chapter 6

Kiyoshi's pov

It was the day after Yukinoshita accepted Totsuka's request. The poor guy had probably gotten himself into something that he would regret later, but I wasn't going to be the one to break the news.

We would start helping Totsuka during that day's lunchbreak, which meant that I wouldn't be able to eat in peace like I liked to, but that was not what was bugging me right now. No, there was something else. Something that I would rather not be participating in right now.

PE class.

Our class and Class 2-C had this period at the same time, so we often coincided. Half of us were playing football, while the other half was playing tennis. I was in the football half.

I had seen Hikigaya before, who was paired up with Totsuka. Yuigahama was with someone of her group of friends.

Meanwhile, I was playing a football match. Since I wasn't particularly good at it, I was playing as a defender with another student.

"Kukuku. I shall use 50% of my power. That will be more than enough for the likes of you."

That's right. My fellow defender was Zaimokuza. He was talking with the members of the other team, who were creeped out by his antics.

"Let's all do our best, okay?"

I was lucky to be in the same team as Hayama. He was a great football player in my (and many other's) opinion, and having to defend him was a pain in the ass.

The match went by with Hayama scoring most of the goals and Zaimokuza yelling weird technique names every time he tried to pass or steal the ball, failing most of the times in the process.

Those two were the most remarkable players in the court. One for his skills and the other for his stupidity. The rest of the players were there trying their best as well, but it was impossible to attract more attention than those two.

"U-um... Takeda."

Suddenly, Zaimokuza called out to me as our teammates bombarded the other team's goal.

"What?"

"I'm no expert, but I'm pretty sure that that's not the way you're supposed to play..."

How dare he?!

"You're the last person I want to hear that from. Besides, my strategy is flawless."

What was your strategy? You might ask. Well, it was quite simple. I was no expert in football, so most of the times I tried to pass the ball to my teammates it was either intercepted by a rival or it didn't get to its destination. So, instead of doing that, each time the ball was near me I would kick it full strength, shooting it as far as possible from our goal.

A defender's job was to defend their goal, and there was no better defence than getting the ball as far as possible so the enemy team didn't get the chance to shoot.

"Our teammates are glaring at you though."

"Yeah? Well, if they have any problem, they can tell me any time."

"They're probably too scared to speak to you though..."

"Exactly."

As I said, flawless.

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When lunchtime finally came, I went to the boy's changing room and put on my jersey. I was fine with helping Totsuka, what I didn't understand was why I had to wear my gym clothes as well.

When I left the changing room, I spotted Hikigaya grabbing Totsuka by the arm and pulling him away from Zaimokuza for some reason which I did not want to know. Their conversation was over when I walked up to them. I couldn't help but notice that Hikigaya was wearing his gym clothes as well.

"I feel like I'm gonna regret coming here today." I muttered.

"Let's go." Hikigaya said, looking just as enthusiastic as me.

By the time we reached the tennis court, Yukinoshita and Yuigahama were already there waiting for us. Yuigahama was wearing her gym clothes as well, but Yukinoshita was still in her uniform.

"Well then, let's begin." She declared.

"I-I look forward to working with you..." Totsuka was scared as hell, but tried to hide it.

"So... how are you going to do this?" I asked.

"Totsuka-kun needs to build some muscle mass first, so we'll start with push-ups. You won't stop until you're ready to die."

"D-die?!"

Yukinoshita then proceeded to explain that the more you hurt your muscles in training, the more they try to repair themselves and the harder they become. Yuigahama was completely lost, until Yukinoshita said that all this effort would lead to some weight loss as well. That was the point when she joined Totsuka in his push-ups.

As she did her push-ups, I could see some parts of her body bouncing and her neck was more exposed than usual. Maybe coming here wasn't such a bad idea, after all.

"Hachiman, Takeda.... What is this? For some reason I feel completely at peace..." Zaimokuza, who came here with us as well for some reason, said with a smile on his face.

"What a coincidence, I feel the same way." Hikigaya said.

"Maybe this is some kind of reward for having to deal with Yukinoshita everyday." I added.

The air suddenly turned cold, much colder than it should be. The three of us turned around and spotted Yukinoshita, who had a small smile on her face. It creeped the hell out of me.

"If you have time to spew nonsense like this, you have time to join them as well."

She didn't need to say it twice. In less than a second, Hikigaya and Zaimokuza were doing push-ups next to Yuigahama and Totsuka.

"Ara, is something the matter, Takeda-kun? Are you perhaps deaf?" The scary smile not leaving her face, she talked to me in a sweet yet scary voice.

"I can't."

"Why is that?"

"It's my arm. I-" I cut myself before I said what I was about to say. "I fell down a couple of years ago and now it lost some of its mobility. If I apply too much force it hurts as well, so I can't join them even if I wanted to."

I wished this was an elaborate lie, but it was the truth. I had hurt my right arm two years ago and now I wasn't able to use it as before.

"Ah, so that's why you never play basketball or tennis in PE?" Yuigahama, who apparently got tired of her push-ups joined me and Yukinoshita.

"Yeah."

It seemed like that explanation was enough for Yuigahama, but the Ice Queen didn't seem satisfied with it.

"Quite the fall that must have been."

I just shrugged.

"The thing is that I can't join them, so I'll be... cheering on you from the side lines. Yeah."

"You still can run, can't you?"

"Huh? Yeah..."

Hearing my response, Yukinoshita turned to the three boys. Unlike Totsuka, Hikigaya and Zaimokuza had stopped doing push-ups as soon as Yukinoshita started talking to me. When she turned back to them again they started doing push-ups as if nothing had happened.

"You three."

"Y-yes?"

"Time to run some laps around the court. Takeda-kun, you go as well."

"What? Wait wait, why do we have to run while you don't?"

"If Totsuka-kun has some partners who exercise with him he will be more motivated." She replied nonchalantly.

"That doesn't answer my question!"

Ignoring me, Yukinoshita turned around and left, Yuigahama trailing behind her.

"Is she angry because of what I said before?"

"I think she is." Hikigaya said standing next to me.

"Me and my big mouth..."

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The days went by and Totsuka's training kept getting harder and harder. At the beginning Yukinoshita would make us join him, but we managed to convince her to leave us be. We still helped Totsuka, but he was the one who went through the training.

It was lunch time again and I was nodding off in a bench near the tennis court. Yukinoshita had gone somewhere and left us in charge, so I took the opportunity.

"Ta....da-ku-"

A cute voice was calling out to me, but I was too busy trying to fall asleep. She would probably leave if I ignored it anyways.

"Takeda-kun!" Whoever was calling out to me had just screamed in my ear.

"Ahhhhh! What?! I'm awake! I'm-" I yawned before ending what I had to say, which clearly didn't help convince the pouting Yuigahama looming over me.

"Mou. We have to help Sai-chan, don't fall asleep!"

"Yeah, yeah..."

I stood up and stretched. Hikigaya and Totsuka were also there. I couldn't help but notice that Totsuka was limping for some reason.

"What happened?"

"A-ah, well... I fell down..."

"It was Yuigahama's fault." Hikigaya stated.

"Wha-?! No it wasn't!"

While the two bickered childishly, I turned to Totsuka.

"Are you sure you can keep going? We can stop if you want."

"N-no... I can keep going."

"If you say so."

Before we could start helping Totsuka again though, we heard an annoying voice coming from outside the court.

"Ah, someone is playing tennis! Tennis!"

"Please tell me it isn't-"

"Ah, wait Miura-san."

Dammit!

"Ah, it's Yui."

Yuigahama timidly greeted them. It seemed that she was uncomfortable because her friends had seen her with us.

"Hey Totsuka-kun. Can we use the tennis court too?" Miura asked.

"W-well... I'm training here, s-so..."

"What? I can't hear you."

"I-I"

"Haah..." I couldn't help but sigh.

I considered myself to be a calm person, it was very difficult to make me angry. But this girl really got to my nerves. I hated people who acted so high and mighty like her... and Yukinoshita for that matter. But Yukinoshita at least didn't abuse her status like Miura did.

Miura liked to be in control, at least that was the impression that she gave. It was clear what she was trying to do. Take the tennis court for herself and her clique not caring if it was already occupied by us.

"Totsuka requested to use the tennis court and the teacher let him, so..." Hikigaya tried to convince her, but it didn't seem to work.

"Can't we just share the court or something?"

I really hated that attitude of hers. Many times I felt like telling her a word or two, like when she started to interrogate Yuigahama the other day. But I didn't because it didn't have anything to do with me.

This time it was different though. I wasn't going to do this for Totsuka, I didn't really care about him. It was more or less a matter of pride. I myself was using the tennis court and wouldn't just leave because Miura felt like playing tennis.

"We are using the tennis court now, so buzz off."

"Haah?"

"Haven't you heard me? Are you deaf or something?"

"Now now, let's not get into a fight, guys." Hayama cut into the conversation.

"Hayato, this idiot is being rude!"

"Are you picking a fight?"

"Oi, stop it." Hikigaya put a hand on my shoulder.

"Are you kidding me?" I turned to Hikigaya. "So what, are we going to leave the tennis court that Totsuka requested just because that snot feels like it?"

"What did you just say?!"

"G-guys, d-don't fight... I'm fine with sharing the court..." Totsuka pleaded.

"I'm not fine with that though. If you want to use the court come back another day."

Miura sent me a glare, which I returned. I refused to relent.

"How about we solve this with a friendly tennis match? If we win, we get to share the court with you. If you win, we'll leave."

"But Hayatoo~"

"They were here before us Miura-san, we can't just kick them out."

Before I could refuse his offer, (Why did we have to go through this? We were here before, this discussion shouldn't even be taking place), Hikigaya spoke.

"It's either that or these two jumping at each other's throat."

"It's settled then."

I glared at Hikigaya, but he didn't budge.

"Tch. Do whatever you want."

I would have liked to play the match, but I couldn't. I just hoped that Hikigaya and Yuigahama would be able to defeat Hayama and Miura. I would be very angry if we had to share the court with them.

xxxxxxxxx

Not even five minutes into the game and a big crowd cheering Hayama and Miura was formed.

At some point during the match Yuigahama fell down and hurt her ankle. She said something to Hikigaya and started to limp towards the school building, but I stopped her.

"Where are you going?

"Ah... I was going to look for Yukinon so she could help Hikki..." It seemed like she was a bit taken aback because of my earlier confrontation with Miura.

"Don't force yourself, I will look for her. Sit down somewhere in the meantime."

"Thanks..."

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I hurriedly made my way through the corridors looking for Yukinoshita. Where the hell had this girl gone to?

After a few minutes of searching I finally found her. I didn't know where she went to, but she seemed to be returning to the tennis court when I found her.

"Yukinoshita!"

"What is it?"

"There's no time, change into your gym clothes."

"What... why should I?" She braced herself and looked at me with a disgusted expression.

"The popular guy and his lap dog wanted to use the tennis court and decided that it would be a good idea to play a tennis match to decide who gets to be in the court, but Yuigahama hurt her ankle and Hikigaya needs another teammate."

...

"What was that?" She tilted her head to the side with a curious expression.

I sighed and explained it to her again, this time telling her everything that happened.

"I see. It seems that I can't leave you alone even for a moment."

"Are you going to help him then?"

"I will. Can you please go look for a med kit while I change my clothes?"

"Sure."

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I hurried to the infirmary and grabbed the kit. The nurse was off somewhere, so I didn't need to explain anything.

Yukinoshita wasn't done when I got back to the changing room, so I leaned against the wall and waited for her. I heard footsteps approaching me, but they stopped. When I turned to look at the newcomer, he suddenly turned back and hurried off. I got a glimpse of his familiar figure from the back though.

"No way. Was that...?"

"What's wrong? It looks like you have seen a ghost."

Yukinoshita, now changed into her gym clothes, spoke to me from behind.

"...It's nothing. Let's go."

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In the end Hikigaya and Yukinoshita managed to win the match, much to Miura's chagrin. However, the crowd ended up cheering on Hayama's team even though they lost. Like, seriously? Didn't they see Hikigaya's shot? I hadn't seen anything like that in my life.

It looked like the ball would fall in the right side of Miura and Hayato's half, only for it to suddenly switch to the left side. Miura ran with all her might to the left side, and the ball flew back to the right side. She wasn't able to reach it, so they lost. How was something like that even possible?

Anyways, my internal rambling aside, lunchtime ended and we eventually went back to the classroom.

The rest of the time flew by and it was now time for the club activities. I waited for the rest of my classmates to leave. Hikigaya stayed in the classroom as well.

"Aren't you coming to the clubroom?" He asked.

"Nah, not today. You go."

He shrugged and left the classroom, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

My school life had gone through many changes the past few weeks. From not interacting with anyone to suddenly joining a club and helping quite a few students.

I had nothing against the service club, what I didn't like is where it was leading me to.

I'm not going to say that I didn't care about the rumours, because I did. The whispers of the students and their looks hurt me. But that led me to being alone, and I was fine with that. Only if things could have stayed that way...

I genuinely wished that Hiratsuka-sensei didn't make me join the service club. Things would have been much more easier for me that way.