Chapter 33: Totsuka Saika and Hikigaya Hachiman!
Luke subsequently tossed the cigarettes into the trash can.
The winner of today's cigarette snatching war was him.
He hurried towards the tennis courts.
This period was P.E., and it was tennis class.
Generally, P.E. class would have two options, and the students in the grades had to be evenly distributed between them.
This month's options were: Tennis and Soccer.
But compared to soccer, which emphasized teamwork more, tennis was better suited for him.
He could easily find an excuse to slack off, and could also figure out ways to practice alone without worrying about teammates.
Everyone had already paired up for tennis in twos and threes.
By the time Luke arrived, there was no need to find excuses like 'not feeling well' for the P.E. teacher, Atsugi-sensei.
Finding an empty spot, Luke watched the guy next to him constantly chasing after the bouncing tennis ball.
Oh, it was the guy who sat in front of him, Hikigaya Hachiman, right?
Although he didn't remember the names of most classmates, he did pay a little more attention to those sitting closer to him.
"Alone?"
Luke looked at Hikigaya.
This guy was a loner too.
Hikigaya looked at Luke who had struck up a conversation, hit the tennis ball back, and said softly, "Mm, it's more comfortable alone."
"True." Luke didn't forget to warm up before exercising, rotating and stretching his body.
"Hikigaya~" A soft, weak voice sounded from the side.
Luke and Hikigaya simultaneously shifted their gazes over.
It looked like a delicate girl, holding a tennis racket tightly with both hands, walking over.
Was this the girl who woke me up for P.E. class before?
Luke vaguely recalled.
However, logically speaking, P.E. classes were usually separated by gender.
This person didn't seem like the willful, do-as-I-please type like Miura Yumiko either.
"Aren't P.E. classes separated by gender?" Luke asked bluntly.
"Um, um, actually I'm a boy... Do I really look that weak?"
Luke looked at his shy appearance.
Indeed, he didn't look like a boy.
"Sorry, due to some irresistible factors, I know very little about my classmates."
Having finished warming up, Luke bounced lightly in place a couple of times.
The aftereffects from using the talisman before had mostly disappeared.
After all, it wasn't his first time using it; he had developed some resistance.
Plus, with the water Kasumizuki gave him, his recovery was quite fast this time.
"Ah, ahaha, I'm Totsuka Saika from your class," Totsuka Saika said softly.
"Mm." Luke nodded and picked up his racket.
"Hikigaya, shall we play together?" Totsuka Saika asked softly.
"Oh, uh," Hikigaya Hachiman replied, his face slightly red, avoiding Totsuka Saika's gaze.
Luke looked at him suspiciously.
Although Totsuka-san looked rather feminine, it shouldn't be to this extent, right?
He felt like he was witnessing someone fall head over heels in love.
The two found an empty tennis court and started playing doubles.
Luke opened his panel.
His current attributes had returned to normal levels—
Strength 13, Agility 13, Constitution 9, Spirit 16.
And these attributes didn't include item bonuses.
This level was already quite high.
It was time to shore up the weak link: Constitution.
Luke picked up a tennis ball and hit it against the wall, starting to rally.
He continuously hit the ball against the wall, skillfully chasing the rebound and hitting it back.
But this activity was somewhat too simple for him with his current attributes.
Let's add a few more balls...
With his powerful strength and agility, plus the terrifying spirit enhanced by items, several tennis balls continuously bounced back from the wall.
Luke hit them back with incredible speed.
At the same time, he still had the spare mental capacity to ponder problems...
He considered Yukinoshita Yukino's issue.
The general method he told Hiratsuka Shizuka was one thing; how to actually do it was another.
Although in the Service Club now, Yukinoshita Yukino had gradually gotten used to his presence, she had only allowed another 'outsider' to inhabit her territory.
They weren't exactly close.
How to close the distance and make her adapt to outsiders joining required a method.
Would catering to her interests be more suitable?
Luke accelerated, hitting the tennis ball back.
With the 19 points of Spirit boosted by the Cat Pendant, he could easily discern the ball's trajectory.
But he didn't know her interests.
After all, that rich, beautiful, black-haired, straight-laced girl was completely her own person, elegantly independent from the school world.
Like a cat... Luke mused.
Speaking of which, loners like her should probably like animals, right?
The lonelier a person is, the more they are healed by cute things.
So, was Yukinoshita Yukino the common cat person or dog person?
If only someone could communicate with her.
Luke analyzed the trajectory of the bouncing tennis ball, lightly hitting it back...
Probably a cat person, right?
After all, according to previous discussions, a particularly bad dog often stole her indoor shoes.
"Heh heh." Luke amusingly switched the racket to his left hand.
Doesn't matter if she's a cat or dog person.
What I can offer is this Master Meow hanging on my chest.
No great loss in trying.
Just don't know if rashly summoning Mimi will make the little one unhappy.
Capable beings tend to be somewhat proud, let alone cats.
Luke stopped his movements, letting the tennis balls whiz past him thwack thwack.
Can't take it anymore, too hot.
"Should I pray for rain?"
Luke took out the [Five Thunder Command Token], fiddling with it.
However, looking at the students playing enthusiastically on the courts, he gave up the idea.
"Ah~ So hot."
Totsuka Saika and Hikigaya Hachiman, having finished a rally nearby, also came over to rest in a quiet spot.
Totsuka Saika sat in the shade, blushing, gently fanning his face with his hand contentedly.
Hikigaya Hachiman also blushed watching him.
Luke curiously asked Totsuka-san, "Totsuka-san should be very popular with girls, right? With this image."
"Not that popular," Totsuka Saika lowered his fanning hand, clasping his hands between his legs and rubbing them continuously, replying softly with a crimson face.
"So you are very popular," Luke guessed.
Totsuka Saika didn't deny it again.
"But, but, I still prefer playing with boys."
Right, it's probably better for boys to act more like boys.
"Why don't you try doing this like me? It'll make you more masculine," Luke said to Totsuka Saika, dangling his legs.
Totsuka Saika looked curiously at his posture, uncrossed his tightly closed legs, and casually swung his right leg out.
But...
Still overwhelmingly cute.
Hikigaya Hachiman averted his gaze from this strange sight.
"Turned into a gyaru instead," Luke stated the truth.
"Ah, ah." Totsuka Saika quickly reverted to his usual soft and weak appearance, shyly rubbing his hands.
"Right, do you guys know where I can buy cat food or treats around here?" Luke stopped teasing Totsuka and asked the two instead.
"Why do you ask?" Hikigaya Hachiman asked curiously.
"Because Totsuka-san seems like a cat."
Hikigaya Hachiman looked at Totsuka and nodded in agreement.
Totsuka Saika continued rubbing his clothes. "R-really?"
...
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