COTE: A Man On A Mission || Love is War?

It was 3rd round, one that decid----

”Hashimoto, Katsuragi’s team gets 1 point! I repea----”

”No need for fuck’s sake. We can hear voice loud and clear from that micr----”

”S-Shut up....Oye, Oye don’t be so lou----we will be caught.”

???

Now, serving party fell to Hachiman and his team.

”I know you really want to win with this momentum, and all...but Ishizaki....”

Standing on same court as Ishizaki, and being a careful person, Hikigaya would of course notice his condition, which was a little strenuous.

He just held the racket with both hands.

These are areas that need attention.

”Although I don’t want to admit it, my physical strength has decreased a little, and my right hand just cramped... But if I can rest for a while...Hmm...” Ishizaki was a little out of breath.

Doubles tennis matches are played in a best-of-three format.

7 balls in one game.

The first one to score 7 goals wins game. If you win second directly as well, then it will naturally be easiest.

But current situation is that Hashimoto got serve and deliberately teased Ishizaki, so he was fooled into running all over the court, which was very tiring.

Although Ishizaki’s physical strength is not weak, he also needs time to rest.

But there was no halftime break in this kind of game, so it was not good for him. Especially when he got cramps... Once this happens, it takes at least 10 minutes to recover.

”Group B has finished its competition, winners are Komiya and xxxx.”

That was winner of Ryuen’s class.

”Group C has concluded its competition. The winners are Utomiya and Gyutaro group.”

But this is a first-year team, and Utomiya Riku is currently a student in Class B.

Hachiman has checked his OA data, and found that his physical fitness is rated A.

While, Gyutaro’s labelled as A+.

What are they doing in same team? Class B and D? What’s Amasawa doing?

With Ishizaki’s current strength, he cannot completely defeat opponent.

Rather than defeating people like Utomiya Riku or Gyutaro, now have to consider defeating Hashimoto first.

But Hashimoto was very mean.

He had been deliberately draining Ishizaki’s energy and not even giving him time to relax.

This is really only thing he can do.

”Let’s change positions.”

”...Huh?” Ishizaki seemed stunned.

”Like I said, I’m pretty good at playing tennis. I can play alone. So, you go to the back, rest, and wait for your body to recover.”

”…...” Solo play.

How to play tennis alone?

”Woah! Woah! Hey, hey, isn’t that Vice President? No way it’s really him!”

”Hooooooo!!! Break the nuts break the nuts! I was just going back...”

Suddenly, there was a lot of noise and cheers among the stadium.

”This should be about when he was playing tennis in physical education class, when he couldn’t find teammates, so he learned the skill of playing tennis alone.”

At this time, there was another girl with straight black hair and over-the-knee socks in audience.

Oh no, other person is a girl who seems to be a cold beauty.

This is Yukino Yukinoshita from Class A, first grade.

To Sakayanagi, this is a junior schoolmate, but also... she could be a love rival, feels very complicated.

”Hikigaya-senpai and I have some similar auras, so I deduced this.”

So, you used to play tennis alone?

”.....” Sakayanagi unexpectedly learned about the bad past of this high school girl. ’No wonder she seemed to be a bit unapproachable....’

”Yes, it seems that his junior high school life was not happy....” In fact, Sakayanagi was recalling the dark history of girl whom Hikigaya-kun had first confessed to.

’From what he said, we can know that the girl who confessed her love to him did not have a deep impression of him, which means that Hikigaya-kun might have been just a nobody in class in the past. Not conspicuous. Even though he was isolated and couldn’t find any teammates in physical education class, he didn’t cry. Instead, stubbornly played tennis by himself.....So cute. It makes people want to love you a little.’

While our Loli President was busy giggling, and fufuing to herself....

”Didn’t he have a lot of money...? I don’t think I look that bad either. Maybe we can...you know.”

”Yeah, yeah...You just read my mind. It’s better to find a rich husband and be pampered....”

”So...So comfortable right?”



”Gold diggers.....!” Sakayanagi spat venom, and her gaze swept across the audience, and then she looked towards Kamuro-san.

Noticed her look.

But Kamuro-san found that Sakayanagi seemed to be signaling her to look at her phone.

Look at the phone.

Did you send any information?

[I will record the information of those who cheer for Hikigaya-kun later.]

by Sakayanagi Arisu.

”…...” by Kamuro-san. ’This girl is really hopeless. But what can you do about gold diggers if they have more fat than you?’

Although, she was her owner but didn’t say it out loud, and began to pay attention to the situation around her.

”Hey... now it’s the crucial moment. Then I’ll leave it to you, Hikigaya. I’ll go and take some time off.”

Game 3.

Between two sides, Hashimoto and his team scored 5 goals.

Ishizaki only had 3 goals.

At a disadvantage.

”It’s our turn to serve next. But if I serve, you won’t be able to receive it.”

”Oh?” This sentence was heard by Hashimoto who also came to the net.

Although it was rude of him to laugh at prince, Hashimoto felt that Hikigaya-kun was just bragging this time.

But he maintained his posture.

Hikigaya-kun and Ishizaki switched places.

”Thuk!!~~ Bump!”

Swoossh!!!

Under everyone’s attention, Hikigaya began to jump serve, but instead of hitting ball far, he wanted to hit it high.

”Even though you look very confident, Hikigaya, I don’t think the ball you’re hitting now is difficult to recei----” Having said that, Hashimoto ran towards direction of the tennis ball without thinking.

Picked up the racket.

However, when racket was about to catch the ball, it was found that yellow-green tennis ball flew in another direction, and... landed, then rolled and stopped.

”Liar!” Hashimoto in the field felt like he was encountering a strange incident, ”This...it’s cheating. What kind of spell? I don’t believe it.”

The audience outside the field could see that direction of ball hit by Hikigaya actually changed in mid-air and moved in another direction.

???

”It’s moving on it’s own...how is this possible?”

”Referreee! Check the ball!”

That’s why Hashimoto wanted to wait for ball to hit ground and then swing it in the air.

”Are you surprised?” At this time, referee had already passed tennis ball back to Hikigaya.

He still serves the ball.

”That’s not surprising. Because I took the weather, wind speed and direction into consideration. As long as the ball flies high enough, it will be affected by the wind. For those who don’t pay attention to it, impossible to hit back. I personally named this delivery Magic Ball.”

Yes, this is something that only people who had no friends in past can feel and experience when they are alone.

Then... apply it.

xxxxxx

”Hikigaya and Ishizaki Daichi’s team scored a goal! Total Goals 6 in this round.”

The result was that after three consecutive balls, Hashimoto failed to catch any of them and could only watch as Hikigaya’s magic ball landed in their court.

There was a burst of cheers from outside stadium. The girls’ could be heard cheering derogatory terms and whatnot.

I tuned them out for Sakayanagi’s weak heart’s sake, girl definitely won’t be able to it.

Hikigaya and Ishizaki’s team got 6, while Hashimoto kept 5 goals he had just got.

So, if Hikigaya and his team can get one more ball now, they can win.

The situation in field suddenly became tense and intense.

This made Hashimoto wipe his forehead.

He just wanted to show his strength and beat Ishizaki to get back his face.

As a result, it is now our side that is in trouble.

If Hikigaya and his team scored another goal, would he and Katsuragi’s team not even be able to enter the first round?

Would they have to pay registration fee of two points for nothing?

Grass!

”But we will serve for next three balls.” Hashimoto tried to calm down and said, ”I admit, Hikigaya, I can’t catch your magic ball. But you may not be able to catch my bal-----”

However, voice was suddenly interrupted.

”Hell, yeah! I’ve had a good rest!” Because at this time, Ishizaki Daichi walked from back to the front.

The knuckles of his right hand gripped the racket tightly.

Obviously, he had recovered from the arm cramp.

Hikigaya-kun wisely continued to stand in supporting position.

”Why.... don’t you want----”

”Hooo! Hoo----Here, I come!”

Hashimoto had no choice but to stop talking and returned to his original position.

This time, he originally wanted to repeat same trick and deliberately make Ishizaki run around the field, but unfortunately, Ishizaki, who had just recovered from cramps, gave it his all as soon as he appeared on the field.

Hashimoto hurried to follow.

However, his foot slipped on the ground, unable to hold the racket, and fell down, but it also meant that outcome of the ball was decided.

”Just my luck...who threw gems on the floor? Eat your candy instead!”

”Hikigaya and Ishizaki Daichi teams get 1 point. 7th goal.”

”Won 3rd game. Win match.”

”.....” Katsuragi felt incredible.

”.…” Hashimoto stopped complaining.

”It seems we made a mistake in judgment....” Katsuragi looked down upon this yellow haired team guy.

He originally thought that he could at least get entrance fee for this kind of project, but now not only did he not earn, he also caused the class to lose 2 points.

He was not in a good mood.

xxxxxxx

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