"Ugh~"
On the third floor of the club building, near the Wind Instrument Club's activity room, the boys' bathroom echoed softly.
"Wrong."
Watanabe Tetsu's gaze followed a pair of pale, slender hands down.
The handwriting was so perfectly neat, it looked like it was typed on a computer—exactly like Tetsu's own style.
Oh no… I left evidence. Miki Yuki is going to catch me.
Ignoring the panic, Tetsu grabbed her hand and forcefully pulled it away.
Sunlight slipped through the gap in the curtains, and the blanket had been tossed into a corner of the room.
Before he could clear his thoughts, a sudden, overwhelming urge made him leap out of bed.
After using the bathroom and squeezing out the toothpaste, he stared into the mirror while brushing his teeth, slowly recalling the events of the dream.
So it was a dream… I should've drunk less water last night.
On the train to school, Tetsu yawned every time the carriage swayed. Through the clear windows, he could see the rare blue sky, a bright break in the rainy season.
Sleep-deprived, he gave Miki Yuki a call.
The phone rang a few times before she picked up.
"What time do you think it is?!" Her voice, laced with murderous intent, told him she'd just been woken up.
Tetsu figured she must have only just fallen asleep.
Because of the early hour and the phone barrier, he didn't bother being his usual cautious self.
"Sorry," he said. "This morning, I… I just missed you and couldn't resist calling."
Beep—beep.
The line went dead.
Yawning, he slipped the phone back into his pocket and, half-asleep, continued watching the sky pass by the window.
At Yotsuya Station, he got off. With summer approaching, the climb up the hill left him sweating, making him think that maybe rainy days weren't so bad after all.
Morning flew by, and soon it was time for the last class.
Since it was P.E., Tetsu went with Osamu Kunii and Keisuke Saito, carrying their gym clothes to the changing room.
"Even on Saturdays, the Wind Instrument Club practices. I heard Aoi-kun and Asako-senpai's voices," Osamu Kunii said while changing.
"Really? Any chance for a wonderful encounter?" Keisuke Saito asked.
"The baseball team's busy training, so no way. But just thinking about spending Saturday at school with Aoi-kun and Asako-senpai fills me with energy!"
"Last time at the amusement park, didn't you get Aoi-kun's contact info? Have you been chatting?"
"Yeah, a little. He's really cheerful and seems interested in the recent shooting games!"
Tetsu finished changing first and gave Kunii a firm pat on the shoulder.
"Tetsu? What's up?"
"Good luck at Koshien."
Kunii watched Tetsu leave the changing room and said to Saito, "What was that about?"
"Good luck at Koshien, of course."
"I know that! I mean, why the expression like I have no hope at all?"
"You really thought you had a chance?!"
"Saito——!"
The P.E. class combined Class 1 and Class 4.
"If it rained today, the plan was boys' basketball and girls' volleyball in the gym. But since it's sunny, we'll practice badminton outside."
After the teacher finished, the P.E. reps from both classes handed out rackets.
A scramble ensued—everyone wanted the best-looking racket.
Osamu Kunii, Class 4's male rep, naturally gave Tetsu and Saito the best rackets and brand-new shuttlecocks.
Tetsu spun his racket, silently noting that this was truly a society where connections mattered everywhere.
After a brief scolding from the teacher for boys juggling rackets without following formations, everyone put the rackets and shuttlecocks aside for warm-ups.
After warming up, Tetsu and Kunii were called over to demonstrate badminton techniques.
"Form teams. Last thirty minutes: Class vs. Class! Start!"
Forming teams was a nightmare for anyone without friends.
Tetsu's trio naturally teamed up, and the losers would rotate out.
Saito and Kunii started, while Tetsu acted as referee.
Kunii's opening line: "Saito, I don't want to kill you."
"You mean you can win anytime?" Saito braced himself.
"For the village, even you, I'll kill! Saito——, Kunii jump smash!"
He shouted out a move name that was more imagination than technique.
"Saito——, Kunii rebounds!"
A completely meaningless badminton duel had begun.
But the most captivating sights on the court weren't the two's over-the-top banter—it was Rin Seino, who looked like a goddess with a racket, and Konomi Tamamo, model-esque and radiant.
"Whoa!"
"Hey!"
"Ugh, why hit it so far?!"
Konomi's voice and even her bending motion to pick up the shuttlecock radiated youth.
Rin Seino, on the other hand, was a total demon. Any girl who tried to practice with her became a mere ball-launching and collecting machine.
This continued until "Uchiha Saito" was defeated and Tetsu took the court.
Just as Rin Seino commanded attention with a racket, Tetsu's presence drew the spotlight.
Girls from both classes glanced over—some outspoken ones even called out.
"Tetsu! Tetsu!"
One led, and the rest joined, cheering.
Tetsu waved, exuding the air of someone saying, "Well done, comrades."
"Damn, that brat… bold even in the corner!" Kunii glared venomously.
"Uh… it's just the corner, right?" Tetsu said flatly.
"Hmph, I'll take you down with just one shot."
"Oh?" Tetsu grinned. "Kunii, I'm not the same as before. Now, it's my turn to rise to the top!"
Though Kunii specialized in baseball, his athletic reflexes earned him the title "Thousand-Handed Kunii" even in badminton.
Before, Tetsu only fetched balls.
But years of morning runs, radio calisthenics, push-ups, and swimming were not wasted.
Add Master-level Free Combat reflexes, and even Kunii would fall.
Shuttlecock after shuttlecock, Kunii attacked relentlessly. Previously, Tetsu couldn't return any.
Now, he precisely returned each one, targeting angles only reachable with a left-handed swing.
After a few rounds, he discerned the pattern, making the angles increasingly devious.
"You're still far from enough, Kunii!"
Contrary to his bold words, the shuttlecock floated lightly, barely crossing the net at the far left.
Kunii, ready for a smash, was too late due to awkward stance.
Defeat.
Tetsu slung his racket over his shoulder, left hand in pocket, posing like a magazine cover.
"Ohhh! Tetsu! Tetsu!" The girls applauded enthusiastically.
Time flew during the thirty minutes of free practice—few hits, a bit of chatter, some comments on who looked good in gym clothes.
Based on observations, the teacher selected the top players from each class.
"Class 1 representative: Rin Seino."
"Present."
Unsurprising, since she dominated non-physical sports.
"Class 4 representative: Watanabe Tetsu."
"Present!"
The boy long mocked in P.E. and outpaced by girls on long runs had finally reached this stage.
Effort doesn't betray!
Class 1 sat left, Class 4 right.
The match resembled taekwondo sparring more than badminton, spectators surrounding the court.
"Tetsu, defeat Class 1!"
"Go, Rin Seino!"
This wasn't a televised event—it was a friendly match, yet Rin's smirk showed she wasn't the type for "friendship first, competition second."
Nor was Tetsu.
All his efforts, beyond revenge, drove him to defeat Rin Seino.
"Rin, start with badminton. Feel the taste of defeat."
"Oh?" Rin replied lightly. "You just exploited Kunii's baseball habits and my less-than-smart weaknesses. Lucky win. Impressive optimism."
"Tetsu, go! No rivals ahead! Kill her! Humiliate…ugh."
Hmm, Kunii, I see your frustration. But why did you freeze halfway when meeting my gaze? Learn to be a man of backbone, like me.
Tetsu faced Rin. "Well, let's start the match."
Rin ignored him and served decisively.
Her spike technique could win a national youth tournament.
But Tetsu had a plan.
"Crosscourt, crosscourt, hooked crosscourt."
Watching Rin dart across the court, Tetsu smiled. "This is my way, Rin Seino."
Gasping, Rin was already exhausted, her gaze locked on Tetsu's racket.
Some boys booed, thinking Tetsu bullied her with sheer stamina.
Others admired him—Rin's black hair flying, feet dancing beautifully.
But Tetsu no longer cared about opinions.
"Score 10:8, final point."
First to 11 wins.
Rin gained early points, but Tetsu, with calculated force, pulled ahead.
Having once run alongside her at turtle-like pace, he knew her stamina limit.
"Rin," Tetsu's gaze blazed, "I've already reached the other side."
A fitting line, even if ominous.
Where Uchiha Madara fails, Tetsu could succeed.
Smash!
The shuttlecock soared at 2:20 p.m.
Rin, running tirelessly, anticipated every drop, left then right.
Exhaustion struck; she stumbled.
"Tetsu! Tetsu!!!" Class 4 leapt, cheering.
Class 4 had never beaten Class 1 in skill sports.
"Don't! Don't touch me! Wait… guys, fine… but girls too?!"
Several girls pinched Tetsu's shoulder and arm.
Would Miki Yuki scold him later?
Class 1 looked disheartened. Some girls tried helping Rin, but she shook them off.
Class ended; everyone returned to the classroom.
Since it was the last period, Tetsu stayed in gym clothes to go straight to club activities.
On the way to the club building, he saw Rin Seino and intended to tease her—but she headed downstairs.
The Human Observation Club was on the fifth floor.
Downstairs?
Curious and eager to show off, Tetsu followed.
"Where to?" he asked.
"Infirmary."
Tetsu paused, glancing at her knees beneath her sweatpants. "Injured?"
"Mm."
"Sorry."
Rin replied evenly, "It's not your fault. Getting hurt in a match just shows I wasn't strong enough."
Watching her profile, Tetsu asked, "Are you angry?"
"Yes."
"Then why say it's not about me?"
"My anger isn't because I lost."
"Then why?"
She paused, sighed, eyes on the steps: "I'm mad at myself."
"In skill, even ten of me can't beat you. Just train stamina, and beating me is easy."
Tetsu thought: Rin builds stamina, I'll refine skill, and the win will be mine.
But Rin's response surprised him.
"Nothing to do with badminton."
Tetsu was puzzled: Then why are you mad?
"Are you serious?" Rin asked without looking at him, walking toward the infirmary.
Tetsu followed, guessing.
Perhaps she discovered the tally mark he wrote on Mai Asuka's leg? Anger toward such a prank would be reasonable.
He'd stayed rational, writing just one mark with his left hand.
That frown wasn't about taste—it was for me?
Everything was speculation; Rin's true reason remained unknown.
Women's anger leaves no trace—guessing is futile, as noted in On the Hearts of Young Women.
In the infirmary, Miyuki Miyazaki, capable of starring in adult anime, was inspecting medication.
"What's the matter?" she asked.
"Teacher, I scraped my knee in P.E. Please help disinfect it," Rin replied politely.
"Sit there." Miyazaki gestured to a stool.
"Yes."
She took antiseptic from the cabinet: "And you? The boy Aona likes most—what are you doing here?"
"Boy? Never mind. She injured her knee, my responsibility as club president to accompany her."
"Mhm—gentle boys are always heart-stealers."
"Are you talking about me?"
"Whoever responds, it's about them."
Rin covered her lips, laughing softly.
Miyazaki squatted, helping roll up Rin's sweatpants and opened the antiseptic.
Tetsu watched, curious about the injury.
Rin usually wore skirts; normally, nothing below the thigh would be alluring. But as she rolled her pants, revealing smooth, pale calves, Tetsu couldn't help but admire every detail of her form.
Lost in thought, Miyazaki cleaned the wound: "Boy, focus."
Rin's gaze snapped to him, and he awkwardly looked away.
"Thought you'd had enough?" she teased.
"Don't say things that cause misunderstandings!"
"I'll tell Aona about today."
"Miyazaki-sensei, please, no misunderstandings!"