Published at 23rd of September 2024 2:04 pm

Chapter 2072: Final Match

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"So, Fuyu... Let's change the terms. If you win against husband, I'll sign up for the Tennis Club. I cannot promise full attendance but I will also bring Yaeko. Hehe. And if you win without letting him take a game against you, I can lift some of the responsibilities off your shoulders. You can pursue the professional scene and I will hold the fort for you.."

"Huh? Yaeko... I mean, Fujimura-senpai too?"

"Yes... Look, I already asked her. We can all play together. Hehe. She's already envious to hear that we're playing against husband today."

First time I heard that. But knowing Yae, Akane was probably telling the truth.

Just that... How did it come to this? Didn't I just tell her that it's fine not to take up a hobby anymore?

No. Wait. Isn't the other one more shocking? Akane will also be helping Fuyu in the club to allow her to fully focus on her career straight to being a pro tennis player.

Akane seeing me dumbfounded cleared my doubts.

"Husband, your confusion is showing. I won against you so you're not part of this now. It'll be an agreement between me, Fuyu, and Yaeko. Also, Fuyu is my best friend. It's not going to be a burden for me to help pave the way for her... Now, it's your turn."

"My turn?"

"Un... Set the prize that you want. One for when you win a game against Fuyu. And another one if you win the match regardless of whether she takes a game from you or not."

"T-that's right, Onoda-kun. My skill is... higher than Akane. Thanks to you two, I got proper rest. And like I promised, I won't hold back against you."

Ah... So this is how they're going to spin this, huh?

Akane absolved me of guilt for forcing her into the club. In the first place, she's already thinking of doing so.

Fuyu, on the other hand, knew that at my current skill, it was impossible for me to win against her. Regardless of the advantage of my physical capabilities.

These girls... Aren't they so shrewd and lovable?

"Alright. I'll reserve the terms if I win the match against Fuyu. As for winning a game against her, I'll not ask for anything much. I want you two to get along more. Also, I hope Fuyu can also get along with Yae."

"Eh... Husband, that's too boring. We're going to do that regardless of the result. Ask something else."

"She's right, Ruki-kun... Make it something that will benefit you."

Haa... So they're not going to let me weasel my way out, huh? My act of being a good boyfriend is not enough for them... Fuyu wants me to ask her for something more specific or personal. Maybe, something out of my desire for her.

I alternately looked at the two girls who seemed to have the same thing running in their heads.

"Something that will benefit me. Let's see... Can I visit your house again? I'm going to tell your parents and Fubuki-chan about us. Ask them for their approval."

"Eh?!" Fuyu's beautiful eyes widened as her serious expression immediately froze. Slowly, the familiar crimson color dyed her entire face.

As for Akane, she drew a meaningful grin before saying,

"Oh-hoh. What a bold move, husband. Are you not afraid of them? Knowing you, you'll also tell them about me, right?"

"Mhm. Didn't I already tell them that you're both special to me? We're simply going to rest their concerns about our future relationship. If they cannot accept me dating you both then... I'll kneel and sincerely ask them to allow it."

"Crazy. There goes your craziness again, Ruki-kun! Bring it on! Let's do that. But make sure you win against me! Otherwise, this will all be just talk!"

Maybe to mask her flustered mind, Fuyu rapidly shouted as she flailed her racket in front.

Not gonna lie, she's so adorable like that.

"Sure. I will strive for it! I can't wait to hear Fubuki-chan teasing us again."

"S-shut up!"

I laughed and then Akane joined me.

Fuyu, not knowing whether to laugh or get angry, sucked in deep breaths to calm herself down.

After slapping her cheeks once, her eyes became like that of an eagle, ready to strike down against me.

Upon sensing that her best friend had already entered her battle mode, Akane raised her hand and announced the start of our match.

"Husband to serve. Start!"

40-15/Break point, Fuyu.

A break.

Yep. Despite having gotten the privilege to take the first service game, Fuyu got three consecutive points after I managed to clinch the point during my first serve.

I might have won a game against Akane earlier but that was when the girl had just finished playing against an intense match with Fuyu.

On the other hand, Fuyu who won her match against Akane got her deserved rest, regaining most of her stamina.

If I was fighting Akane at 50% strength. The Fuyu in front of me right now was at 90% if not

100%.

She's being true to her words. Holding back is out of her vocabulary.

"Ruki-kun, your speed and strength are extraordinary but your serves are the same. Put more variety to it."

The girl shouted from the other side.

Yes. Not only is she scoring more points against me, but she's also continuing to coach me

after every point.

I could see her eyes burning more with enthusiasm in guiding me than winning. And yet, I was still this disadvantaged against her.

That's the difference between someone who picked it up just for today and someone who's been playing the sport with all their heart and passion for the last few years.

What adaptation? No matter how quickly I learned the ropes in this sport, I still needed to analyze and apply it in my movements. Otherwise, they're just nothing but knowledge that cannot be put into practice.

"I understand. Thanks for the guidance, Fuyu." I smiled and waved at her before attempting to do my fifth serve.

This time, taking note of what she just said, I tossed the ball upwards while giving it a slight

twist.

I watched how it spun before applying the knowledge that Fuyu spent her time teaching and guiding me last night.

Most tennis players have to practice rigorously to grasp the skill of applying a spin on their serves. It's a difficult thing to do for someone whose experience was little to none.

But for the sake of breaking through this predicament of losing a service game, I had to try.

I loosened my grip on my racket slightly and then angled it to the spin I wanted to apply. For a serve that used most of my strength, I had to make sure that it would land squarely on her service box and then prevent her from expecting the trajectory of its bounce.

Woosh!

I read about the different types of serves. What I was using all this time was probably the flat serve. But this time, I decided to try my hand at a slice serve. Adding a sidespin to it, the ball flew past the net and then landed just a wee bit away before the outside line. Fuyu predicted that but what she failed to anticipate was how it would bounce. The ball unconventionally bounced in a weird direction, catching her off guard. Fuyu being Fuyu still managed to catch it. However, my setup was completed.

With the court wide open and the ball flying directly to my side, sending it to where I want it

to is now possible.

The question is... will my ball control follow my intention?

Swoosh!

Feeling like the time slowed down, I watched as the ball once again flew past the net before gradually descending to the far right, opposite where Fuyu returned my serve.

As the almost deafening sound of the ball bouncing from the surface rang out, I narrowed my

eyes, focusing on where it landed.

A few seconds later, Akane called out her judgment.

"Out. Game, Fuyu, 1-0."

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