Although he didn't understand why Mori Shinra had suddenly become so strict, Totsuka Saika still subconsciously stood up straight and said, "I-I guarantee I'll complete the mission!"
"Where did this special forces drill instructor come from?" Hikigaya retorted.
Drill Instructor Shinra looked at him with a sharp gaze. "Private Hikigaya, fall out!"
"I'm involved too?"
"You're free during lunch anyway."
"That's true."
And so, the first session of the Service Club's hellish tennis training camp was set for the lunch break, officially starting next Monday.
The reason Shinra had included Hikigaya was because he discovered that Totsuka's presence could make this guy drop Wish Points.
That's right. Because Hikigaya was so invested in Totsuka's situation this time, Shinra had received corresponding feedback.
Although it was only 1 Wish Point, it was better than nothing. What's more, Totsuka himself also had a gray Wish Request. Added together, that was a full 2 Wish Points, which was a considerable boost for Shinra.
Through this, he also discovered that not all Wish Requests existed from the start; they could also be induced through conversation.
Originally, there was no Wish Request on Totsuka, but under the pressure from Yukinoshita, he had successfully generated a gray one.
This opened up a brand new route for him to acquire Wish Points.
If there's no wish, I can just create one, jye jye jye...
Eh? Why do I sound like a capitalist?
"I'm counting on you all!" Totsuka bowed again to express his thanks, then happily left the classroom to continue training at the tennis club.
Hikigaya looked at his departing back with some pity. Totsuka... what lies ahead is hell!
Others might not know Shinra, but how could he not?
After seeing that all-too-familiar expression on his face, Hikigaya knew he was being serious.
In fact, from his perspective, the Mori Shinra with this expression was, in a certain sense, even more terrifying than Yukinoshita.
When he had first joined the club, Shinra had worn this exact expression, and what followed... was better left unsaid!
After Totsuka left, Shinra sat back down in his seat, interlaced his fingers in the Gendo Ikari pose, and said in a deep voice, "Well then, there is one more thing."
"What is it?" Yukinoshita was puzzled. Could there be another request?
"I don't know how to play tennis," Shinra stated frankly.
Yukinoshita Yukino: #
"What do you mean, you don't know how to play tennis..."
"I've never touched a tennis racket, never played tennis. The elective I took in P.E. was table tennis. Hikigaya should know this."
"Come to think of it, that's true," Hikigaya testified. Before, when he had P.E. class alone, he would basically hit a tennis ball against a wall. Since getting to know Shinra, he had mostly stayed indoors playing table tennis with him.
Though if he could, he would rather keep the wall for company, because playing with Shinra depended entirely on his mood.
Good mood: a few more rounds, then fetch the ball.
Bad mood: a few less rounds, then fetch the ball.
Eh!
Hikigaya suddenly thought, if Shinra doesn't know how to play tennis...
Isn't this a ready-made opportunity for revenge?
Just as Hikigaya was plotting his revenge, Yukinoshita pinched the bridge of her nose and said, "Wait, if you don't know how to play tennis, then the training plan you just mentioned was..."
"Oh, you mean this?" Shinra held up his phone, showing the Google search results to her.
The biggest difference between humans and animals is that humans use tools.
As long as you can skillfully use a search engine, anyone can become an expert.
This is the charm of technology!
"Besides, just like a cultural worker doesn't need to be cultured, who decreed that a tennis coach must know how to play tennis?" he said, spouting nothing but fallacies.
Yukinoshita clenched her fists, having no intention of listening to his sophistry. She said with a cold smile, "You'll be practicing with them."
"I can teach him how to play," Hikigaya volunteered.
A god-sent opportunity, how could he not take it?
Hearing this, Shinra raised an eyebrow. He could see right through Hikigaya's little scheme and said with a cold laugh, "Alright then, I'll be in your care."
"No problem, no problem. It's what I should do," Hikigaya said, waving his hand with a fake smile.
I never thought I would one day wear such a fake adult smile. This is all your fault, Mori Shinra!
Shinra looked at his own Constitution stat of 8. After he used the Wish Point from Hikigaya later, it might go up by another point. He couldn't imagine how he could possibly lose.
Even in a battle of attrition, he could wear Hikigaya down to death.
Hikigaya, I see you don't understand at all.
Yukinoshita didn't know what kind of charade these two were playing. She looked at Yuigahama. "Are you coming?"
"I am, I am," Yuigahama nodded. This was a rare Service Club activity; she wouldn't miss it.
Then she suddenly remembered something and asked, "Um, should we notify Kawasaki-san?"
Yukinoshita looked at Shinra. He was the one who had brought her in, so it was naturally his responsibility.
"Should I go ask her?" He wasn't sure if she would come.
After all, she was always either working or studying. She finally had a lunch break to relax. There was no reason for her to come and train with them.
Wait, if that's the case, why did he have to train too?
He suddenly realized. He wanted to request a leave of absence. How could the coach be expected to play on the field?
Protest, protest!
Protest denied.
The impartial Judge Yukinoshita upheld the original verdict and deprived him of the right to appeal. It was an act of pure tyranny.
However, unexpectedly, when Shinra invited Kawasaki Saki via LINE, she actually agreed.
Kawasaki Saki: Tennis? I guess I know a little.
Mori Shinra: You mean you'll participate?
Kawasaki Saki: It's a rare club activity, after all. It doesn't feel right to just mooch for points...
Alright, that was very much like her.
Although she looked a bit scary, she was essentially a very good girl.
Just as he was about to put away his phone, a message caught his eye.
Sakurajima Mai: Are you free this Sunday?
[Sakurajima Mai retracted a message.]
Shinra thought for a moment and typed.
Mori Shinra: I'm free. What's up?
Sakurajima Mai: ...After I make my comeback, I'll probably be too busy to have fun. I've lived here for two years but have never really explored the area. I feel a bit regretful, so I was hoping someone could accompany me for a walk.
Mori Shinra: Time and place. And in return, please dress up nicely that day.
Sakurajima Mai: hammer.jpg
Sakurajima Mai: I'll come find you then.