"Of course, no problem. We are rule-abiding people and would never defy the authority of the chief referee," Hoshimi said with a bright smile, seeming to imply something more.
The target of his implication, the blonde girl Yumiko Miura, looked even angrier. She glared at Hoshimi, ready to retort.
Fortunately, Hayato Hayama stopped her, speaking to the referee first, "No problem, we agree too."
"..." The chief referee glanced at the players on both sides. They were all students with significant backgrounds and not easy to deal with.
He didn't want to get involved in their conflict, so he simply held up the coin and asked, "Heads or tails?"
"We choose tails," Hoshimi said promptly.
"We choose tails too!" Yumiko Miura immediately interjected, glaring defiantly at them.
The chief referee was speechless.
"Sorry, sorry, we'll choose heads," Hayato Hayama said with a bitter smile, pulling Yumiko back.
"Hayama!" Yumiko Miura seemed a bit dissatisfied.
"Yumiko, listen to me," Hayato Hayama consoled her helplessly.
"Hmph..." Yumiko snorted, turning her head away without saying more.
"Just to confirm," the chief referee looked at Hoshimi and Yukinoshita, "you choose tails."
"Yes," they replied in unison.
The chief referee then turned to Hayato Hayama, "And you choose heads?"
"Yes."
"Then let's begin." The chief referee tossed the coin and caught it in his broad hand.
"Tails," the referee announced to Hoshimi and Yukinoshita. "You can choose to serve, receive, or pick a side of the court."
After exchanging a look with Yukinoshita, Hoshimi spoke, "We'll choose to serve."
"Okay," the referee turned to Hayato Hayama, "which side do you choose?"
"The left side."
"Alright, players, get ready to start." The chief referee, not wanting to engage in further conversation, walked to his position.
"Hmph!" Yumiko Miura glared at Yukinoshita, then headed to the left side of the court. "Hayama, let's go."
"Um... sorry about that. Yumiko can be a bit headstrong," Hayato Hayama apologized quietly to Yukinoshita and Hoshimi.
Yukinoshita acted as if she didn't hear, heading to the right side of the court with her racket.
Hoshimi stayed back, smiling as he listened to Hayato's apology.
"Good luck," Hayato said, radiating his usual charm even to the unfamiliar Hoshimi Kiyokawa.
"Sure, competition first, friendship second. I get it," Hoshimi nodded with a deep smile.
"..." Hayato smiled wryly and turned to take his position on the court.
But Hoshimi called out to him, "Hayato Hayama, right?"
Hayato stopped, turned back, and smiled, "Yes, and you're Hoshimi, right?"
"Yes," Hoshimi replied, his smile turning slightly mischievous. "You'd better keep an eye on your girlfriend. With her temperament, she could easily get into trouble."
"..." Hayato's smile stiffened, and he awkwardly explained, "Yumiko isn't my girlfriend..."
"Oh? Denying she's your girlfriend first rather than scolding me for cursing her? Interesting," Hoshimi's smile grew deeper, with a hint of something more sinister.
"..." Hayato's smile became even more strained, almost breaking.
"Haha~" Hoshimi laughed, patting Hayato on the shoulder. "Whether she is or not, you shouldn't spoil her too much. It could harm her, or you might just be using her as a shield..."
"Hoshimi! Hurry up! The match is about to start!"
"Hayama! What are you talking about? Get ready!"
The voices of the two girls drowned out Hoshimi's words, leaving only Hayato aware of what he had said.
"Haha~ Good luck," Hoshimi laughed meaningfully and walked to the right side of the court. "Coming, coming. Yukino, stop rushing me~ Hayama and I were just chatting."
"..." Watching Hoshimi's back, Hayato's smile completely disappeared.
He looked at Hoshimi, then at Yukinoshita, his eyes distant as if lost in thought.
The next moment, he turned, smiling warmly again as he walked to the left side of the court. "Yumiko, I'm here."
"What did you say to him?"
When Hoshimi reached the right side of the court, Yukinoshita asked expressionlessly.
"Just some mutual encouragement, and to see what kind of person he is," Hoshimi replied, rubbing his right arm with a peculiar expression.
"And your conclusion?"
"50% nice guy, 30% mixed good and bad intentions, 10% hypocrisy, 5% infatuation, 4% ruthlessness, and 1% unknown. Overall, a good person, but he showed some malice towards me just now," Hoshimi said, smiling broadly and somewhat sinisterly.
"..." Yukinoshita felt a strange chill at Hoshimi's smile.
After a moment of silence, she said, "I don't know how you came to that conclusion so quickly, but you're not entirely wrong. However, I don't understand where you got that 5% infatuation from."
"Hehe~" Hoshimi glanced at Yumiko Miura across the court but didn't explain.
Seeing Hoshimi unwilling to elaborate, Yukinoshita didn't press further. She picked up her racket and ball, preparing to take her position.
"By the way, Yukino, you know him, right? And you have some history?"
"Sort of. Why, are you jealous?" Yukinoshita slightly turned her head, her eyes glancing at Hoshimi.
"Yeah, a little. I dislike guys who are as handsome as I am, especially those who have connections with women I know," Hoshimi admitted openly, smiling without hiding his emotions.
"Heh~" Yukinoshita's lips curled in a mocking smile. "Such ugly possessiveness. I don't know whether to praise you for your honesty or scold you."
"Then praise me. You haven't done that before."
"Let's win first. If we win, I might consider praising you."
"Really? Then we must win." Hoshimi stretched his shoulders, grinning. "Let's finish this quickly and give them a clean sweep. I'm curious to hear what you'll say about me."
"Hey! What are you two still talking about?"
Seeing Yukinoshita and Hoshimi not in position yet, the chief referee reminded them impatiently.
"..."
The two exchanged a glance. Yukinoshita moved forward expressionlessly to take her position, while Hoshimi went to the baseline.
...
Meanwhile, Kotoko Iwanaga was on her way, heading over by car...
...
"Match start," the chief referee announced grumpily.
"Yukino, give me the ball," Hoshimi requested, asking to serve for the first game.
===
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