Saijo no Osewa ~ Takane no Hana [LN] - V3 Chp 2 part 3

 

After the first game is over.

 

Tennis is played between court changes at the end of odd numbered games. Hinako and Narika both started to move courts.

 

On the way… Hinako calls out to Narika.

 

[Miyakojima-san, why do you want to go out with Tomonari-kun?]

 

It was in a small voice that Itsuki could not hear.

 

Narika was dismayed by Hinako’s question.

 

[W-Well, why… it’s…]

 

[Well, I understand. Tomonari-kun is comfortable to be with]

 

Hinako said as she picked up a ball that had fallen near the net.

 

Hearing those words, Narika’s eyes opened wide.

 

The perfect Ojou-sama in the academy… would have such feelings for a boy?

 

She had thinly sensed the distance between them was close.

 

However, being told again by the person herself, she couldn’t hide her surprise.

 

[D-Do you think so too, Konohana-san…?]

 

[Yes]

 

Hinako nodded her head.

 

[The last time the two of us went out, we had a lot of fun–]

 

[Bu~, you went out together?!]

 

The Konohana-san, the one who’s said to be the most highly ranked student in the academy…

 

Konohana-san, who has never once had any rumors of a potential suitor, went out alone with the opposite sex?

 

Ignoring Narika’s astonishment, Hinako continued with a soft smile on her face.

 

[Besides, Itsuki-kun and—]

 

Hearing those words, Narika’s eyes popped out.

 

[—Excuse me, Tomonari-kun is…]

 

[What did you just say!? What did you just say!?!?]

 

Hinako tilted her head as if to say [Whatever do you mean?] 

 

Next, Hinako was the one serving.

 

Narika headed to the court, handing the ball to Hinako.

 

(Kuuuuu!!! I knew it…!! I knew that Konohana-san called Itsuki by his first name…!!!)

 

Narika gripped her racket tightly.　

 

She glared sharply at Hinako, who was across the net from her.

 

(What kind of relationship do you two have…!!!)

 

◆

 

The second game started with Hinako’s serve.

 

The ball wasn’t as powerful as Narika’s, but its course was precise.

 

Unlike Narika, who plays a speedy game with a powerful ball, Hinako seems to play a careful game, focusing on control.

 

She uses a variety of shots, including cross shots and drops shots, with great dexterity. As Narika said, she’s truly seamless and strong.

 

[Thirty – Fifteen]

 

Hinako had a one-point advantage.

 

Tennis is basically a sport where the player who can serve is more likely to score points. Of course, there are slight differences depending on the skill of the players, but this is generally the case in professional play.

 

This is because in tennis, the serve is the only thing you have at your sole disposal. Neither the timing nor the course of the serve is influenced by the opponent. That’s why, when the receiver wins the round, it’s called a break.

 

In other words, tennis tends to favor the server. 

 

In the second game, Hinako is the server, so Hinako must have the advantage, but…

 

[Forty-Fifteen]

 

Once again, Hinako took the point.

 

With this, Hinako would take the game with one more point.

 

However, I had a strange feeling.

 

(…Huh? Narika’s looking a bit down)

 

Narika’s movement seemed to be lackluster from a while ago.

 

While I wondered if something was wrong, the second game ended with Hinako’s victory.

 

The server and receiver were switched, and this time Narika was serving

 

However, Hinako won the third game as well. —it was a Break

 

Narika’s poor performance continued.

 

Next was the change of court and the two began to move over.

　

 

◇

 

As Narika started to move, she picked up a ball that fell near the net.

 

As a result, Hinako was in close proximity to her.

　

[….Come to think of it, Konohana-san had also got her hair wiped by Itsuki earlier]

 

Narika said in a volume Itsuki cannot hear.

 

[? Yes, what about it…?]

 

[Then if you don’t mind me asking, do you usually have Itsuki take care of your hair as well?]

 

To Narika’s question, Hinako was at a loss for an answer.

 

But eventually, Hinako flashed her usual elegant smile.

 

[I wonder. Sometimes, I do ask him for that…]

 

Vaguely, Hinako affirms Narika’s question.

 

Hearing those words, Narika slightly grinned.

 

[Itsuki did a good job with your hair, didn’t he? At any rate, it wasn’t his first time]

 

[…what do you mean?]

 

[When I was still little, I didn’t care about taking care of my hair. One day, Itsuki pointed out to me that it was hard for me to move, so he tied my hair up. I’ve been asking Itsuki to take care of it ever since. Itsuki may have forgotten, but the hairstyle I have now is the one he came up with]

 

Narika proudly held a handful of her black hair tied up in one knot and showed it off.

 

Even to a person of the same sex, it was beautiful and shiny black hair. Even Hinako, who’s used to receiving compliments, found Narika’s hair attractive.

 

The change of court was over and now Hinako was the server.

 

(….I, wasn’t the first one)

 

While tossing the ball, Hinako recalled the story Narika told her.

 

(Fuuuuhh….)

 

In the corner of her vision, she saw Itsuki, the referee.

 

(…….Fuuuuuuhhhh)

 

◆

 

After entering the fourth game.

 

Hinako was holding the advantage until a few minutes ago, but the flow changed again.

 

[Double fault. …Love-Forty]

 

Hinako consecutively failed to serve.

 

Now Narika only needs one more point to win the game. Hinako, on the other hand, has yet to score a single point.

 

(…Now, Hinako’s condition is going down)

 

As her caretaker, I have to pay attention to Hinako’s condition.

 

My first concern was that she wasn’t feeling well… but from what I’ve seen that wasn’t the case. She was still running well and her fatigue wasn’t serious.

 

If anything, she seemed to be bothered mentally, not physically.

 

Sometimes I feel like she’s glaring at me with a frown on her face… but I don’t know why.

 

While I was thinking, Hinako tossed the ball and tried to serve.

 

[—Woah!?]

 

The ball barely missed my nose.

 

Normally, a ball hit from a serve shouldn’t pass so close to the judges table. Especially with Hinako’s skill, it’s hard to believe that she would lose control as much as she did.

 

[D-Double fault…]

 

Anyway, game four ended with Narika winning.

 

They went to pick up the ball that was caught in the net.

 

On the way, their gazes fell on me.

 

[….Tomonari-kun]

 

[….I’ll talk to you later]

 

Why were they both staring at me?

 

---

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