第１３４４堀：彼女にとっての遊び (Part1)
Chapter 1344: Her Kind of Play
Side: Yuki
After finishing our table tennis match, we took a short break.
As it happens, the table tennis had become unexpectedly fierce.
"Nnggh, to think Hovis could move like that..."
"I was surprised, too. She’s usually so laid-back."
"Fufu~. You shouldn’t underestimate me~."
Yes, whether it was my teaching or their natural aptitude for the game, I don’t know, but they had reached a level where they could trade volleys and smashes with impressive intensity. And the one who ultimately conquered that battlefield was Hovis.
By the way, as for Kirika, who was chosen as my first practice partner...
"…I will practice table tennis every single day from now on."
"Er, Lady Kirika. You don't have to be that depressed..."
She had been thoroughly toyed with by Hovis and was eliminated in the first round of the tournament. She had a decent match against Yayui, but she still lost.
As for me, having experience, I was placed in the seeded bracket. I ended up losing by a narrow margin to Prol, who had also been seeded by lottery.
It seems Prol doesn't like to lose when it comes to competition; she was playing with genuine seriousness.
I’m not just saying that to cover up—I really wasn't holding back.
I couldn't exactly win the tournament; that would be completely failing to read the room.
In short, Hovis had defeated Orelia and Prol to take the championship.
No, that was just as surprising as Orelia’s performance, but if you watched her movements closely...
"Hovis. You’ve played before, haven't you?"
"Oh my~. Can you tell~?"
"Of course. I thought you were supposed to be studying?"
"I was studying~. I just came here to play during my breaks~. I didn't lie to you~."
"I see."
So, Hovis had intentionally kept quiet about it.
I don't think that’s a bad thing. It’s only natural to hide one’s cards, and in that setting, she probably figured that being an "experienced player" would only make a fifty-fifty difference anyway.
As I was thinking this, Hovis slid over to me...
"Yuki-sama, you were holding back against Prol-san, weren't you~?"
"You could tell?"
"Well, yes. Your movements were a bit unnatural, Yuki-sama~."
"I’m not used to holding back like that. Just keep it quiet, will you? Prol is finally starting to show some real emotion."
"I understand~."
With that, Hovis drifted away.
As far as I know, this is the first time Prol has shown the emotion of frustration.
In other words, her feelings are finally coming to the surface.
The desire to win.
It means she’s subconsciously decided it’s okay to reveal her true self to others.
It also means she’s exhausted from the table tennis.
She doesn't have the energy to keep up that level of guardedness anymore.
That’s why...
"Alright, we’ve worked up a decent sweat, so let’s take another bath. I don't feel like walking around smelling like sweat."
"Yes!"
My plan was to play a bit more, but everyone was surprisingly drenched in sweat from the intense rallies.
Their skin was flushed, their hair and yukatas clinging to them.
It was quite a sultry sight, but...
Was it really that intense of a battle?
To me, it was light exercise, but maybe because it was table tennis—something they weren't used to—it became a full-body workout?
...I pondered whether it was right to call such a sweat-drenched affair "play" as I headed back to the family bath, already considering what we should do next.
Once back at the family bath, they were used to the routine. After Orelia and Prol brought out fresh yukatas and undergarments, they headed straight for the bath.
There was no hesitation left between them.
It really is true that playing together and sharing a bath is the best way to get close, I thought.
Well, that’s not necessarily true for everyone.
Especially someone like the former shut-in, Narjia.
But even Narjia spends so much time training and researching with Wazfi and Havia, so sharing time is clearly an effective method.
As I was washing my body while thinking about such things, someone suddenly spoke to me.
"Yuki-sama. Do you have a moment?"
"Hm? What is it, Prol?"
To my surprise, it was Prol, and she spoke without stuttering.
The flustered, tongue-tied demeanor she had when we went to the commercial district was completely gone.
Perhaps she was in "work mode," but more than that, I couldn't help but think that showing her bare skin had numbed that part of her.
Prol might be short, but she’s certainly well-proportioned.
No, my reason hasn't flown out the window to the point where I’d attack her, but I do worry about her being so unguarded.
Or perhaps I’m wrong; it’s my position that forces this upon them.
Ah, being in a high position is such a hassle.
Thinking this, I decided to listen to Prol’s request.
"What should I do to win against Hovis?"
"Win? At table tennis?"
"Yes."
If this were anyone else, I might tease them a bit to make them realize they’re just having fun, but with Prol, I felt it was different, so I decided to answer seriously.
"Well, naturally, it’s training."
"Training, as I thought."
"Even a genius needs to practice a few times. Well, there are true geniuses who can bypass that, but I don't think you’re that type, Prol?"
"I don't lose when it comes to being a genius."
"Then, shall I be your opponent?"
"Really?"
"I have no reason to lie, and I’ll be hearing more internal information from you instead of Kirika anyway. Right, Kirika?"
When I asked Kirika, who was washing her body next to us, she replied:
"Yes. I think that would be perfect. It means Prol has finally found something she’s interested in."
"Interested... in?"
Oh, it seems Prol hasn't realized that she’s become obsessed with table tennis.
"You want to win against Hovis because you’re interested in table tennis, right? If you just wanted to win, you could challenge her to a test of strength or a study competition. The question is, why table tennis?"
"Ah, now that you mention it, that’s true. I suppose I just thought table tennis was a fair match. Since it was something new for both of us."
No, Hovis had been practicing quite a bit.
I decided not to mention that.