36. Tenis

  "Yukinoshita-san, please teach me how to play tennis." Qiyun put down the dishes in his hands and looked at Yukinoshita, who was sitting opposite him with a dignified posture and eating in small bites, and made such a request. 

  "Why do you suddenly want to learn this? Are you thinking of joining the tennis club, Mr. Pervert?" Yukinoshita paused, her eyes calmly fixed on Qiyun. 

  "This commission, for example, is just about improving Totsuka Ayaka's tennis skills. Why is Mr. Pervert acting even more anxious? Logically, it would be fine for you to just sit back and watch. I don't think Mr. Pervert is a diligent person." 

  "Uh," 

  Yukinoshita's words really stumped Qiyun. He couldn't say that Hayato Hayama and Yumiko Miura would challenge him later in the storyline, leading to a tough battle. So, he had to practice well in advance and then teach them a lesson. Qiyun wasn't the type to just sit back and wait for them to come and attack him. He didn't know when they would arrive, otherwise he'd be tempted to go after them. 

  "Maybe it's because having many skills is always a plus?" Qiyun said tentatively . 

  "Well, then, stay after the club activities every day. I'll practice with you." Yukinoshita sighed, clearly not buying Qiyun's nonsense, but she didn't ask any further questions. 

  "Hmm," Qiyun lowered her head and continued to cook silently. Honestly, Qiyun hadn't expected Yukinoshita to actually bring a large batch of ingredients this time, then effortlessly enter the kitchen and cook a large, hearty dinner. The whole process was so seamless, which made her feel a little awkward. 

  "Then I'll be leaving," Yukinoshita said, packing up everything, picking up her backpack, and saying goodbye to Qiyun, just like yesterday. 

  "Hmm, be careful on your way," Qiyun nodded like a chicken pecking at rice. 

  "You..." Yukinoshita suddenly turned around, wanting to say something, but hesitated and ultimately kept her mouth shut. 

  "What's wrong with me?" 

Qiyun pointed at herself, a bit dazed, his face bewildered. He thought to herself, "I haven't done anything wrong lately. I just got naughty last night, and I've been pretty honest all day.”

 "Nothing," Yukinoshita shook her head, not saying anything. She gently opened the door and left. 

"So what is Yukinoshita trying to say?" Qiyun speculated internally. She had been acting a bit strange lately, hesitant and hesitant at times, a bit out of character. 

But if Yukinoshita didn't say it, he had no way of knowing. 

"Hey ha!" 

Qiyun exclaimed softly, leaping high and swinging his racket with all his might. The battered racket flew past Totsuka Ayaka and landed behind him. 

"That's amazing, Yukinoshita-san!" Totsuka Ayaka held her racket to her chest, watching Qiyun's swing, her face thick with envy. 

"Hey, hey, hey, don't make that foul face!" Qiyun quietly turned his face away. Although Totsuka Ayaka wasn't within his XP range, he couldn't help but look adorable. Was cuteness the truth? 

"Playing tennis?" a voice chimed from behind, a hint of provocation. Qiyun couldn't help but smile, as if he'd seen it coming. Finally, it's finally here. All those days of hard training are worth it. 

However, his expression was noticed by Yukinoshita, who was standing beside him. A hint of confusion crossed her eyes, as if she couldn't understand why he was so excited. 

Qiyun, overcome with excitement, looked back and saw a group of uninvited guests standing at the entrance to the tennis court. Standing in the center of the group was Hayato Hayama, his face always smiling gently, and Yumiko Miura, with a provocative grin. 

"Hey, can we play here too?" 

Yumiko Miura asked, her eyes fixed on Qiyun and Yukinoshita on the court. The provocation was obvious, as she seemed to be still quite upset about what happened last time. 

"Miura... we're not playing..." 

"Okay, let's win first and then we'll talk," 

Totsuka Ayaka said before Qiyun finished. Qiyun held out his racket, clapping it in his hands, a slight smile of disdain playing on his lips. 

"If you want to play, you have to at least prove you have the ability, right?" 

Qiyun's words showed no mercy. Of course, he wouldn't give them face. They were obviously looking for trouble, so why would he even talk to them politely? If that could get them out of here, Qiyun wouldn't consider doing so. 

  "Okay," Miura Yumiko said, looking eager to try. If she could beat Yukinoshita Yukino here, it would be a win, so she couldn't wait to pick up the tennis racket. As a junior high student selected to participate in the county tournament, she seemed quite confident. She believed she had the ability to beat Yukinoshita Yukino. 

  Nearby, Hayato Hayama grew uneasy at the confrontation. He knew Yukinoshita's personality, but he hadn't expected her to be so direct in challenging him. Upon seeing Yukinoshita's presence, Hayato Hayama had been about to say hello and leave with Miura Yumiko. Given the situation, he'd have no choice but to fight alongside her. Unfortunately, 

  Qiyun didn't know Hayato Hayama's thoughts. If he could read her mind and know what Hayato Hayama was thinking, he wouldn't have provoked her. However, given Miura Yumiko's personality, she'd likely provoke him too, and Qiyun wouldn't tolerate her, so a fight was likely. 

  "Then let's do this. The winner gets to use the field during the break. Of course, I'll also practice with him. After all, practicing with someone stronger is more effective, isn't it?" After a moment's thought, Hayato Hayama declared, his expression still that gentle smile, brimming with confidence and sunshine. 

  "Tsk" Qiyun turned her head and smacked her lips quietly, not because she was dazzled by his strong sense of presence. 

  Hayato Hayama was also a little confused, not knowing how he had offended Yukinoshita Yukino in front of him, she always felt that she looked indignant. 

  "Then let's have a mixed match, why not let Qiyun from your club room join in" Miura Yumiko looked sideways at Yukinoshita standing beside her, holding the racket, her eyes full of contempt, although the last incident was just over, but she still couldn't swallow the anger in her heart, now there is such a good opportunity, she will not let it go. 

  "Okay," 

  Yukinoshita replied calmly, walked to the side of Qiyun, looked in the direction of Miura Yumiko, and suddenly a smile appeared on the corner of her mouth. The expression on her face was suddenly full of teasing, and she said in a contemptuous tone, 

  "I hope your ability can be as big as your temper." 

  "You..." Miura Yumiko tightly grasped the racket in her hand and was about to move forward, but was stopped by Hayama Hayato. 

  Hayama Hayato said to Yukinoshita with a smile, "Since Qiyun is so confident, let's compete on the court."

  Qiyun suddenly understood why he'd been so irritated with Hayato Hayama. His aura of being a nice guy and a playful persona was so positive that he'd unconsciously cast herself in the role of the villain. So that was how it was, Qiyun finally understood. 

  Soon, both teams had changed into their uniforms and stood on the court. Qiyun gripped his racket, set up his stance, and stared at the other team, pondering his next attack. He didn't think he'd lose. Not to mention that his hard training had already significantly improved his technique, and with Yukinoshita, the big problem, possessing her own stamina and skills, Qiyun had no idea how he could lose. He also had his own trump card. 

  "Mr. Pervert, did you foresee this coming?" Yukinoshita's voice drifted in from the side, soft enough for only the two of them to hear. 

  "Hey, Yukinoshita-san, why do you say that?" Qiyun asked awkwardly, somewhat surprised by her sudden question. 

  "I found it strange from the beginning. With your personality, you wouldn't be so active in practicing tennis. And you wouldn't be so proactive in provoking others in the past. You're quite funny like that." When she said this, Yukinoshita actually laughed softly. At this time, Yukinoshita was standing behind Qiyun, so Qiyun couldn't see the expression on Yukinoshita's face. 

  So Qiyun responded a little embarrassedly, 

  "So, Yukinoshita classmate, you can't lose. I've already made a promise. If you lose, it will be too embarrassing. We are now in the same boat. Losing my face is a small matter, but losing your face will be troublesome." 

  "Mr. Pervert, there's no need to provoke me. I've disliked you for a long time. In fact, I'm a vindictive person." 

  Yukinoshita's voice was suddenly filled with a hint of gloom, which made Qiyun shiver all over. She felt that she should never provoke Yukinoshita. 

  "Bang!" A crisp knocking sound came from the opposite side, and Yumiko Miura threw the tennis ball high up, holding the racket in her right hand and swinging it down vigorously. The yellow tennis ball bounced out a shadow at the moment it was hit. 

  "Is it really coming for me?" Qiyun thought so as she looked at the tennis ball that was flying towards her. Yumiko Miura's main attack direction was herself, and she really wanted to get back on herself. 

  "But, you picked the wrong person." 

  Qiyun picked up the racket, took a step back, and pulled the ball back with force. The speed was so fast that it was even faster than the previous attack. 

  Seeing the tennis ball that was quickly counterattacked, Yumiko's eyes also flashed with a few traces of surprise. Her body moved quickly, and her steps quickly chased the direction where the tennis ball landed. 

  To be honest, Qiyun was a little displeased watching this counterattack. If it were his own strength, that strike wouldn't have given Miura Yumiko time to catch up and react. But with Yukinoshita's physique, that was all he could do for now. Despite a period of specialized training, Yukinoshita couldn't significantly improve her stamina. 

  Miura Yumiko soon caught up to where the ball was about to land, preparing to swing her racket down with all her might. 

  "Watch out for her moves," 

  Yukinoshita warned from behind. 

  Miura Yumiko's downward swing suddenly changed direction, sending the ball careening back. 

  "Fake!" exclaimed a voice from outside the court. 

  "Of course, I don't want to lose!" 

  Qiyun sprinted over, having already anticipated a feint, though he wasn't sure if she would pull one off as planned. From the outset, he'd been closely watching Miura Yumiko's movements. 

  With another brilliant drive, Qiyun sent the tennis ball back into the opponent's court. 

  "Wow, Yuki's amazing!" Yuigahama Yui leaped up with joy, clenching her fists over her chest as she cheered for Qiyun. 

  Smiles spread across the faces of the people around her. 

  Seeing the cheers from the crowd outside the court, Qiyun couldn't help but smile. Although she kept reminding herself to stay calm and maintain her aloof Yukinoshita persona, she still thought a smile was okay. 

  "It seems Mr. Pervert hasn't been slacking off lately," Yukinoshita's voice boomed from behind Qiyun, her tone light and cheerful, as if she were happy for him. 

  "Hahaha, who am I, Qi?" Qiyun began to boast. 

  "Don't get too cocky, it's just a win!" Miura Yumiko glared over with a sullen expression. 

  "Ha, should I cry just because I won?" Qiyun retorted mercilessly. 

This suddenly choked Miura Yumiko, who was at a loss for words for a moment. It was truly Garen's whisper, the silence breaking through. 

  Soon, a furious tennis ball flew over from the opposite side. 

  "Good timing," Qiyun pressed forward again and hit the ball back with force. 

  The two sides fought back and forth like this, but Qiyun always had the upper hand. Yukinoshita was more responsible for defense in the back. The ball that passed Qiyun's position was hit back mercilessly by Yukinoshita, and Qiyun firmly controlled the direction of attack. 

  "Bang," the tennis ball hit Miura Yumiko's feet heavily, making her already ugly face even colder. 

  "Oh, we have a big advantage, let's wipe them out in one fell swoop," Zaimokuza Yoshiki, who was watching the game on the side, stretched out his hand with an indomitable look. 

  "Yukino is really amazing," Yuigahama Yui couldn't help but want to applaud, and the pink ball on her head seemed to be celebrating the success of the situation and fluttering in the wind. 

  Hikigaya, silently watching the action nearby, remained silent, his expression slightly dull. He wasn't as optimistic as Zaimokuza Yoshiki and Yuigahama Yui. It was only halftime, and despite their team's clear advantage, Yukinoshita Yukino was clearly fading. 

  Therefore, victory in this match depended solely on Kiyun, who was defending from the back. Hikigaya thought this, glancing at Yukinoshita, who lay silent in the back. Yukinoshita's face was expressionless, her racket firmly gripped as   she stared forward.