"Yukinoshita, don't do any more smashes in the next match. Have you forgotten how you sprained your ankle?"
At the tennis court, Hoshimi, sitting on the bench, reminded Yukino beside him.
Yukino, who was wiping her sweat, paused and replied coldly, "I don't need you to tell me. I know my limits."
"Alright, just be careful. We still have a lot of matches. Keep your body in good condition. By the way..." Hoshimi looked around, "Where's Yuigahama-san? Didn't she promise to come cheer for us? Why isn't she here?"
Yukino frowned and threw her towel at Hoshimi's face, "Don't ask me. I don't know."
"Sigh~ It's a pity. You finally made a friend, and now she's gone." Hoshimi sighed.
"..." Yukino remained expressionless and silent, her thoughts unknown.
Hoshimi glanced at Yukino from the corner of his eye but said nothing more, closing his eyes to enjoy the sunlight.
Shortly after, two girls from Class 2-J's support group appeared in front of Hoshimi and Yukino.
"Hoshimi-kun, the men's singles badminton match is about to start."
"Yukinoshita-san, the women's singles tennis match is about to start."
The two stood up and walked away in opposite directions.
...
A little later, they reunited again.
"Yukinoshita, did you destroy your opponent again? I just saw a girl squatting and crying when I came back. Was that your doing?"
"If she can't handle it mentally, it's not my fault."
"Sigh~ After all this time with me, you still don't get it, Yukinoshita. Letting the opponent win a set won't hurt. I let them have one point in every game."
"That's humiliating, worse than not letting them win."
"Well~ You just don't understand. By the way, give me a sip of your water."
Yukino handed Hoshimi her half-empty bottle of water without a word.
"Click—"
In the shadows, someone's heart, already shattered like glass, broke once again...
...
The first day of the sports tournament ended amid much excitement.
Hoshimi and Yukino easily advanced to the next day's main event in mixed doubles as group leaders.
Both also smoothly entered the finals in their respective singles events.
After a day's matches, a physically exhausted Hoshimi and Yukino habitually went home together.
"Ride my bike?" Hoshimi asked.
"No," Yukino, who had sworn not to, flatly refused.
"If you ride my bike, I promise not to do anything extra in tonight's dream, and I won't play any 'games' under any pretext."
"Deal!" Yukino agreed immediately.
After all, it was just a vow in her heart; no one would know...
"Click—"
In the shadows, watching the two leave romantically, someone's heart shattered into pieces.
Meanwhile, Kotoko Iwanaga, sound asleep, turned over and continued dreaming of meeting Hoshimi.
...
Friday morning, the sports tournament resumed.
In the morning, Hoshimi easily won the men's singles in both table tennis and badminton, and together with Yukino, advanced to the finals in mixed doubles tennis.
Yukino also secured the women's singles tennis championship without any trouble.
During a short lunch break, the exhausted pair rested on a bench in the shade.
"Yukinoshita, can you still hold on?" Hoshimi asked softly, feeling discomfort in his lungs.
"I'm fine," Yukino replied weakly, her voice betraying her true state.
The finals on the second day were far more intense than the first.
Though the opponents were stronger, they were still not much in Hoshimi and Yukino's eyes. The real killer was the extended schedule!
Table tennis moved from best-of-three to best-of-five, and tennis and badminton went from single sets to best-of-three.
The prolonged schedule wore down their already limited stamina.
If not for their weak opponents, they might have been eliminated long ago.
"Yukinoshita, want to recover your energy quickly?" Hoshimi asked.
"Do you have a way?"
"Yes."
"How?"
"Like this." Hoshimi pulled Yukino into his arms, resting his head on hers.
Without waiting for her to struggle, Hoshimi closed his eyes, pulling Yukino into his dream world.
Instantly, Yukino found herself resting on Hoshimi's shoulder, both of them falling into a deep sleep.
As mentioned before, Hoshimi's body enters a state of deep sleep when he enters the dream world.
Deep sleep, also known as golden sleep, allows the brain cells to rest fully, crucial for relieving fatigue, restoring energy, and boosting immunity.
Typically, deep sleep only accounts for 25% of total sleep time, but it is enough to alleviate a day's fatigue.
Hoshimi, however, can turn all his sleep time into deep sleep with miraculous effects.
An hour of sleep for him and Yukino equals the benefit of half a night's rest for others.
In the distant shadows, Hiratsuka Shizuka observed the scene with a peculiar expression, looking at Haruno Yukinoshita beside her.
"Haruno, how does it feel to see your sister growing up?"
"Heh~" Haruno Yukinoshita laughed coldly, her heart as cold as iron, showing no emotion.
"Haruno, I'm just saying, I think Hoshimi Kiyokawa is a good kid. Don't interfere and let your sister and Hoshimi develop freely for a while."
"..." Haruno Yukinoshita glanced at Hiratsuka Shizuka, not bothering to say anything.
If Hoshimi Kiyokawa were free, she might consider it. But since he wasn't, why let him harm her sister?
She didn't want her sister to be deceived emotionally, physically, and mentally.
"The Yukinoshita family sure is stubborn," Hiratsuka Shizuka sighed, seeing Haruno's silence.
"Huh? What's stubborn? Shizuka, are you mistaken?"
"No, I don't want to argue. Just tell me if you're coming to eat."
"No."
"If you're not coming, then I'm leaving."
Hiratsuka Shizuka turned to leave.
"Wait." Haruno Yukinoshita called out, looking thoughtful.
"Huh? Changed your mind?" Hiratsuka Shizuka turned back.
"No, I just want you to bring me some bread."
Hiratsuka Shizuka, at a loss for words, waved her hand, "Got it. I'll be back soon."
"Wait, Shizuka, one more thing. Find a student to bring Yukino her lunch."
Hiratsuka Shizuka turned back, puzzled, "Why don't you do it yourself?"
Because Hoshimi Kiyokawa was there, and she was wary of him, planning to observe more before getting closer.
Such words couldn't be said out loud.
So, she coaxed like talking to a child, "Be good, go on. I'll treat you to a drink next time."
===
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