"Thank you very much!!!"
The boys' matches had all concluded, and the club members received a thunderous round of applause as they bowed to the spectators.
The results for the singles were two wins (by Hayato and the captain) and one win for the doubles, bringing the final score to three-to-two. The matches ended with a victory for Rinka High School.
Though it had been a close contest, a win was a win. I hoped this would provide some momentum for the girls' tennis matches that were to follow. Now, let’s see...
"Next is Natsumi-senpai's match! I can't wait to see the ace in action!"
"Natsumi is a national ranking holder, so I'm sure they’ve invited a school with players of a comparable level. We should be in for a high-quality match," Nishikawa-san noted.
"Nishikawa-san, have you ever played against Natsumi-senpai?"
"I've played with her for fun before. But a real match? Not a chance. We’re in completely different leagues."
Since I had never actually seen Nishikawa-san play tennis, I couldn't say for sure, but the way she spoke made it sound like an indisputable fact.
I certainly believed Natsumi-senpai's skill was exceptionally high. In most of the matches I had seen her play, she secured steady, comfortable victories. Of course, sports are unpredictable, so she wasn't necessarily invincible, but she was as close as it got.
"This is your first time seeing her play, isn't it, Yuji?" I asked.
"Yeah. We’ve talked about it before, but Natsumi-san always tended to be vague whenever the topic came up."
"She’s surprisingly shy, in her own way."
"True. But honestly, that’s part of what makes her so cute."
"Whoa... it’s rare to hear Yuji being so open about his feelings."
"I’ve got nothing on you and Satsukawa-san."
It was a bit surreal to realize that the day had come where I’d be having this kind of conversation with Yuji, a guy I’d been hanging out with since we were kids. Still, it wasn't a bad feeling at all.
"Even so... this is really something..."
Yuji murmured his impressions as he began to stare intently at our surroundings. Right now, the spectators around us were in the middle of a massive swap. Members of the Natsumi-senpai Fan Club were swarming the area, armed with various banners and gear.
But it was a bit too early for him to be surprised. He hadn't seen "that" yet.
"Hey, hey, Satsukawa-san, how are things going with Takanashi-kun?"
"How... do you mean?"
"Don't play coy! I mean, how far have you two gone?"
"Even if you ask how far... we haven't even gone on any trips together yet..."
"Ahaha! I guess even Satsukawa-san makes the classic jokes!"
"...?"
It was a natural reaction from our classmates, but Sara-san wasn't joking; she was just answering with complete sincerity. The fact that nothing had happened yet despite us living together was also the absolute truth.
But... let me just say one thing.
This was absolutely not because I was a wimp.
My willpower was simply forged from something harder than any substance on Earth. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that my unwavering desire to cherish Sara-san was what sustained me. I felt like I deserved a little more credit for my restraint. Don't you all agree?
"...If you're ever struggling, feel free to talk to me or Hayato," Yuji said, patting me on the shoulder with a look of pity.
"Shut up!"
His lukewarm concern was unnecessary. I wasn't suffering. Sara-san gave me a "reward" almost every day—which, for a guy, was its own special kind of torment—but it was exactly what kept me going.
"It looks like it's starting!"
At someone's shout, the idle chatter ceased instantly, and every eye in the stands shifted toward the court. The pre-match meeting had ended without me noticing, and now the players were out on the court exchanging greetings.
By the way, the match order followed the boys' bracket. Since Natsumi-senpai was Singles 1, she would be the final match of the day. Her turn was still a long way off. For now, we would just cheer on the other girls.
The matches proceeded smoothly. By the time our school had secured one win in doubles and one in singles, we were in a very favorable position.
However, since this was an invitational match, the games would be played to the end regardless of the overall score. All that remained were Natsumi-senpai's match and one final doubles match.
Spectators who had been watching the other courts and general guests who hadn't been there before began flocking to the area to catch the "main event." In terms of sheer numbers, the crowd was even larger than the one for Hayato's match.
Finally, the star took the stage.
"Here we go, everyone!!"
"""Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!"""
The moment Natsumi-senpai stepped onto the court, the energy in the stands spiked. The disciplined Fan Club refrained from useless chatter or scattered shouts; instead, they moved with a synchronized intensity that was almost moving to behold.
"W-Wow, this is intense..."
"Yeah... it’s completely different from when it was Hayato-kun's turn..."
"It’s been a while since I've seen them like this," Nishikawa-san noted.
"We're starting at the climax—"
"Hanako-san, stop right there!"
Phew... lately, Hanako-san had been making far too many meta-remarks. Since the instructions from "God" had been increasing, I had to stay on guard. Of course, I had no idea what Hanako-san was about to say, okay?
"""Fi!! Fi!! Na-tsu-mi, Natsumi!! Fi-oh-fi!!!"""
The Natsumi-senpai-exclusive Cheering Song finally began. This was a seasonal tradition of the Rinka High School Girls' Tennis Club—a sight that always left first-time viewers in a state of shock. I had been stunned the first time I saw it, too.
"""............"""
Sure enough, Tachikawa-san, Todo-san, and Yuji—the first-time group—were staring at the spectacle in a daze. Natsumi-senpai, standing on the court, had been glancing over at us (or more specifically, at Yuji) with an awkward expression.
Knowing Yuji, he was bound to tease her about this later. Perhaps the reason she hadn't invited him to watch her before was because she didn't want him to see this particular display?
"The Best of Three Sets Match..."
With the umpire's call to start, the Fan Club's cheering stopped abruptly. Their discipline was almost terrifying—or rather, refreshing.
"It’s finally starting."
"Yes. I think Natsumi-senpai will be fine if she plays as well as she usually does, but..."
"Fufu... someone precious to her is watching today, so I’m sure she’ll win," Sara-san said with a smile.
"...You're right."
I agreed, but there was always the risk of her getting too tense, just like Hayato had. This was the first time she was playing in front of Yuji since they had become lovers.
"...Hup!!"
WHACK!!
Like a buzzer announcing the start of the final singles match, the sound of Natsumi-senpai's powerful serve echoed across the court. The ball, launched from a beautiful, fluid form, pierced the opponent's side of the court. The opponent returned it calmly, and a fierce rally began.
They exchanged shots two or three times before the opponent suddenly closed the distance to the net, delivering a leaping volley.
"Ah!?"
Yuji let out a surprised cry. I was equally wide-eyed. But it wasn't the opponent's move that shocked me—it was Natsumi-senpai. She had anticipated the play, closed the distance herself, and countered the volley with a powerful two-handed volley of her own.
The opponent wasn't in any position to recover. The ball zipped past them, landing well out of reach.
"Fifteen-love!!"
"""Kyaaaaaaa!!!"""
"""Natsumi! Na-tsu-mi! Nice shot!!!"""
The Fan Club erupted at Natsumi-senpai's brilliant opening play, and the excitement in the stands reached a new fever pitch. We were just as impressed. The first-timers looked particularly moved.
"Whoa! Yuzuki-senpai is so cool!"
"Wow! She’s amazing!"
"Hah... showing off like that is exactly why her female fan base keeps growing," Nishikawa-san sighed.
In contrast to the spotlight, Natsumi-senpai remained stoic, quietly resetting her stance without showing any emotion. She was focused and professional—a side of her we didn't often see.
"........."
"Yuji?"
"A-Ah, I'm fine. Just a little surprised..."
He had probably never seen this side of Natsumi-senpai before. It was only natural for him to be stunned.
"...Hup!!"
WHACK!!
Natsumi-senpai's next serve caught the line of the opponent's court perfectly. Her opponent barely managed to reach it, sending back a heavy return.
Whack! Whack!
The rally continued, the spectators following the ball's trajectory with bated breath. To be able to trade shots like this with a serious Natsumi-senpai meant her opponent was a high-level player indeed.
Whack!!
The opponent capitalized on a high bounce from Natsumi-senpai, returning it with a thunderous smash. Natsumi-senpai sprinted toward the ball as it tore across the court... would she make it? She did!
WHACK!!
She returned the smash firmly, aiming for the opposite side of the court. The placement was perfect, forcing the opponent to scramble toward the line. They barely reached it, sending back a weak, desperate lob.
Natsumi-senpai stepped forward and met the powerless return with a delicate touch. The ball dropped just over the net—a perfect drop shot. There was no one there to catch it.
"Thirty-love!!"
"""Nice! Nice! Na-tsu-mi, oh~~♪"""
Her continued dominance brought another burst of song from the fans. Yuji remained wide-eyed, staring at Natsumi-senpai in a daze. He was likely overwhelmed by both his girlfriend's prowess and the sheer scale of the support for her.
"Natsumi seems to be in great form today."
"She does. She looks even more determined than usual."
Normally, Natsumi-senpai would try to sneak a little wave or a wink our way, but she wasn't doing that today. She was dead serious. It seemed my worries about her being too tense were unfounded.
Although Natsumi-senpai started with a strong lead, her opponent was formidable. It turned into a grueling, see-saw battle.
Natsumi-senpai took the first set at 40-30. The second set went to a deuce, but the opponent managed to snatch it away. The white-hot intensity of the match had the Fan Club's cheers reaching a boiling point.
Now, the third set had begun. Natsumi-senpai was leading 15-0.
"Ugh... I can't even blink..."
"She’s really being pushed. That opponent is incredibly strong to be keeping pace with Natsumi like this."
"Yuzuki-senpai... keep going..."
Nishikawa-san was right. I hadn't expected the match to be this close. Natsumi-senpai was playing well, which meant her opponent was simply that skilled.
"That player is quite famous," Hayato explained, having rejoined us to provide commentary. "Natsumi-senpai is technically ranked higher, but from the look of things, there’s almost no gap between them today."
Yuji was no longer paying any attention to the crowd. He was focused solely on Natsumi-senpai. It was rare to see him so completely captivated by anything.
"...Hup!!"
WHACK!!
The opponent returned Natsumi-senpai's serve with precision. Another rally began as both players searched for an opening. The ball flew across the court six, seven times as they refused to give an inch.
And then, in the middle of it all...
Something caught the corner of my eye. Something was rolling into the court from the far side.
"Ah!?"
By the time I realized what it was, it was too late. Natsumi-senpai was focused entirely on her opponent; she hadn't noticed. I could only pray that it would roll past her without incident.
But my wish went unanswered. The stray ball rolled directly under Natsumi-senpai's foot.
She stepped on it at the worst possible moment.
In what felt like slow motion, her balance shattered. She began to fall toward the hard surface of the court.
"Let!!"
"Natsumi!!"
"Natsumi-senpai!!"
The umpire stopped the match immediately. The advisor and the other club members rushed onto the court. Natsumi-senpai didn't get up right away, but she wasn't clutching her leg or crying out in pain. I desperately hoped she was just shaken.
"""Natsumi-senpai!!!"""
"""Natsumi!!"""
"""Natsumi-chan!!"""
The Fan Club's discipline finally broke as screams erupted from the stands. We were just as frantic—especially Yuji.
"Natsumi-san!! Natsumi-san!!"
Yuji grabbed the partition bar, leaning forward as if he were about to vault onto the court, shouting her name over and over. His panic was palpable, echoing my own fear for her.
After a few moments, Natsumi-senpai slowly stood up. She began checking her mobility, taking a few practice swings and hopping on her feet to test her ankles. From where we were sitting, she seemed to be okay.
"It looks like it flew in from the neighboring court," Sara-san noted, pointing to the ball now sitting at the edge of the court.
It was the source of the disaster, but with the doubles match happening right next to them, it was an unavoidable accident. You couldn't really blame anyone.
Natsumi-senpai exchanged a few words with the umpire and signaled to her teammates that she could continue. The club members stepped back to the sidelines. She was going to keep playing, but I couldn't help but worry.
"""Fi!! Fi!! Fi-fi-fi!! Na-tsu-mi! Na-tsu-mi!"""
The Fan Club immediately resumed their support, but the tone had changed. It was no longer just enthusiastic; it sounded desperate, like a collective prayer for her safety. We joined them, our voices filled with the same urgency.
Natsumi-senpai took a deep breath, looking forward with renewed focus, and prepared to serve.
Please, be okay. You can do this!
"Natsumi-san!!"
As if Yuji's cry was the trigger, Natsumi-senpai tossed the ball into the air and swung her racket with all her might.
WHACK!!
"...!?"
The moment she landed after the serve, her movement hitched. It was only for a split second, but she looked delayed. Usually, her follow-through was seamless, but this time she seemed to hesitate.
"...Something is wrong with Natsumi-senpai's movement," Hanako-san pointed out, her voice unusually grave. Sara-san nodded, her brows furrowed in deep concern.
"Natsumi-san!!"
Yuji's voice cracked—a raw, pained sound that tore at my heart.
"Hup!!"
Natsumi-senpai managed to reach the return, but her movements were becoming visibly sluggish. She wasn't just slow to start; she was favoring her right leg during her dashes. She was clearly trying to protect the foot she had landed on.
"Ah..."
This time, she couldn't reach the ball. It zipped past her, landing well within the bounds.
"Fifteen-all!!"
The score was called, and the advisor immediately hurried to the umpire. After a brief exchange, a timeout was officially called.
"Yuzuki-senpai... she’s going to be okay, right?"
"........."
"Natsumi..."
"Natsumi-senpai..."
Under the anxious gaze of the entire stadium, Natsumi-senpai was helped back to the bench by her advisor. She was limping slightly, her usual vibrant energy replaced by a strained, painful gait.
Natsumi-senpai...