"Huh? What nonsense are you talking about?"
Yumiko Miura, who didn't watch anime at all, couldn't understand what Hikigaya Hachiman had just said.
After giving him a strange look a few times, she hurriedly walked back to the back of the classroom, as if afraid someone would find out about what just happened.
"So that Miura girl actually apologized to you?"
During the third period joint PE class in the morning, Zaimokuza, who was doing stretching exercises back-to-back with Hikigaya Hachiman, was surprised and exclaimed after hearing about what happened earlier that morning.
"Is there really a need to be so surprised?"
Zaimokuza spoke loudly, making Hachiman's eardrums ache.
Frowning, Hachiman gripped Zaimokuza's waist and pulled him up off the ground.
"Ouch ouch ouch… my waist is going to break, my waist is going to break!"
Feeling his delicate waist being tormented, Zaimokuza quickly begged for mercy.
After Hachiman put him down again, Zaimokuza held his waist and took a few seconds to recover before continuing.
"Come on, that's Queen Miura we're talking about. Have you ever seen her apologize to anyone besides Hayama?"
"How should I know something like that?"
Hachiman looked at Zaimokuza speechlessly.
Doesn't he know how he spent his high school days already?
"She's in your class, you'd think you'd at least pay some attention…"
Hearing this, Zaimokuza's mouth twitched.
"In any case, you're probably only the second student in the entire school she's ever apologized to!"
Being the second sounded pretty impressive.
But in reality, it was useless.
And being apologized to also meant you'd been hurt by that person before, either physically or mentally.
Why should he get excited over something like that?
"Yeah, that's true, it really is useless…"
After hearing Hachiman's analysis, Zaimokuza scratched his head thoughtfully and nodded.
"Hey, you two over there, stop slacking off! Finish the warm-ups and get ready for training!"
Suddenly, a stern voice from the PE teacher came from afar.
The two who had already stopped their warm-ups instantly started moving again.
Soon, the warm-up ended.
As usual, Hachiman and Zaimokuza brought their tennis rackets to the most secluded court and continued chatting under the pretense of training.
But soon, Zaimokuza noticed something off.
"You've been secretly practicing tennis lately?"
If he were slacking, the ball control wouldn't be so precise.
Zaimokuza had already picked up several balls, while Hachiman hadn't lost a single one from start to now.
"No way, I'm busy, there's no time to practice tennis."
Shrugging, Hachiman denied Zaimokuza's suspicion.
His midday, afternoon, and evening schedules were packed; how could he still find time to train tennis?
"Besides, midterms are next week. Even if I wanted to train hard, I'd wait until after the exams, right?"
Zaimokuza stiffened immediately as a tennis ball flew past him.
With a "thud," Zaimokuza collapsed to his knees.
"Forget about this… I'm doomed…"
"It's not a big deal, right?"
"No way! It's a huge deal!"
Seeing Hachiman still not understanding the consequences of failing, Zaimokuza held his head and explained tearfully the repercussions of failing exams.
"That means you have to attend remedial classes every afternoon until you pass the make-up test before you're let go!"
"If I fail, my novel updates will stop forever!"
"Then study hard and pass the exams!"
"You're very reasonable—like you said nothing at all."
Zaimokuza gave Hachiman a pitiful look.
If studying hard could guarantee passing, would he be this desperate?
"Aren't we talking about Miura apologizing to you?! Why are we suddenly talking about midterms?! (╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻"
"You're the one who changed the subject first, can't blame me."
Hachiman showed an innocent expression.
Clutching his racket tightly, Zaimokuza focused and hit his most proud shot at Hachiman.
The tennis ball was struck like a cannonball, whistling through the air.
But as it passed the net, the bottom of the ball grazed the net and suddenly veered off to the side.
It was just a normal mistake, but following the ball's trajectory, they saw a small figure crouching right in front of where the ball was headed. Tʜe source of this ᴄontent ɪs Novᴇl_Fire(.)net
Their previously relaxed mood instantly tensed.
Holding his head, Zaimokuza didn't dare to look at what was coming next.
No matter if the ball hit that person or not, his reputation in class was about to drop another notch.
Hachiman quickly ran toward the figure.
Getting closer, Hachiman recognized the person as Totsuka Totsuka and showed a bit of surprise on his face.
Why wasn't he playing tennis but instead came over here?
However, now was clearly not the time to ask questions.
Rushing in before the ball arrived, Hachiman reached Totsuka, then turned and shot the ball back.
Totsuka only felt a flash in front of him before Hachiman suddenly appeared by his side and returned the ball that seemed impossible to catch.
Instantly, admiration appeared on Totsuka's face.
"Well, it's nothing special… By the way, are you okay?"
Even though he knew Totsuka was a boy, seeing him look at him with admiration made Hachiman surprised to find himself somewhat thrilled.
"I'm fine! I'm a guy, you know. Just getting hit by a ball isn't a big deal!"
Saying that, Totsuka bent his arm and made a muscle-flexing pose as if to make his words more convincing.
No convincing at all! And why make such a cute pose?!
Hachiman felt his mind was being shocked heavily.
He covered his eyes with his hand, repeatedly telling himself that this guy in front of him is a guy, a boy...
Huh, maybe in foreign countries guys aren't unusual?
A strange thought flashed through his head.
Hachiman immediately bumped against the nearby fence, overwhelmed.