Ke Xue: The thief Cao is actually myself

Chapter 612: Don’t be alone in front of the god of death! (Please give me a monthly ticket!)
"Is that so?"

Hearing this, Ayashiro Noriko's expression eased a little, she bit her lower lip and thought for a moment, "Then let's go play billiard, but we must not miss the fireworks, okay."

This time she came all the way to the hot spring town, not only to reunite with old classmates whom she hadn't seen for many years, but also because she was looking forward to the fireworks. It would be a real pity if she accidentally missed it.

Ayashiro Yukio waved his hand nonchalantly, with a confident smile on his face, and replied cheerfully: "Don't worry, there's plenty of time!"

There were three full hours from now until six o'clock, which was more than enough time for him to have fun. No matter how he thought about it, he could not miss the fireworks display that his wife had been looking forward to for a long time.

Ayashiro Noriko breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile, "That's good."

After that, she turned to look at Yumi Horikoshi beside her and asked enthusiastically: "Yumi, how about we team up and fight later?"

Although table tennis seems to be an easy activity, men often have a clear advantage in terms of innate conditions such as strength and endurance.

Instead of forming a mixed team with men like Maori Kogoro and Nakamichi Kazushi and being beaten without any chance to fight back on the table, it is better to let the men compete with each other. The girls form a team by themselves, so that they can enjoy their own table tennis time in a relaxed atmosphere without pressure.

Hearing her words, Horikoshi Yumi shook her head slightly, smiled and declined, "No, why don't you team up with Xiaolan?"

"Huh? Why?"

After hearing this, Ayashiro Noriko couldn't help but feel confused and couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

Of course, this doesn't mean that she is unwilling to team up with her junior, Mao Lilan.

Maori Lan is beautiful, gentle and considerate. How could she not want to play with such a cute and sensible girl?

However, if she teamed up with Mouri Ran, wouldn't that forcibly separate the sweet couple Mouri Ran and Byakuya and destroy their sweet relationship?

She was unwilling to do such an unromantic thing.

Moreover, if this arrangement was really made, what would happen to his old classmate Yumi Horikoshi? He couldn't let her be alone as a spectator, or fight with big and strong men like Maori Kogoro and Nakamichi Kazushi, right?
Horikoshi Yumi seemed to see Ayashiro Noriko's concerns, smiled gently, and explained: "I'm not really good at playing table tennis, so you guys can just play. Besides, I'm not in a good state today, so I won't hold you back."

When she said this, Yumi Horikoshi sighed softly, a trace of fatigue slowly emerged on her face, her originally bright eyes dimmed a little at this moment, her voice was soft but with deep fatigue: "I suddenly feel a little tired, I'm going to rest in the room first, you guys go play."

She looked like a delicate flower swaying in the wind, and anyone who saw her would feel pity for her.

After saying this, she bowed slightly, turned around and walked slowly towards the room.

But for some reason, her receding figure, illuminated by the sunlight, looked particularly desolate and lonely, as if she had been forgotten in a corner by the world.

"Don't be alone in front of the god of death, big sister!"

Seeing this scene, especially the figure of Yumi Horikoshi leaving the main group, Bai Ye shook his head calmly.

With Conan, the elementary school student of the god of death, around, you dare to act alone? Are you afraid that you are living too comfortably?
You know, in "Detective Conan", there is a law that anyone who is left alone will die!

Maori Kogoro didn't notice Bai Ye's complaints. When he saw that Horikoshi Yumi was so unsociable, he couldn't help but curl his lips and muttered in a low voice: "She is still the same. She only considers herself in everything she does and doesn't care about other people's feelings at all."

Omura Jun quickly smiled and tried to smooth things over, saying, "I think Yumi is just an independent person and doesn't like to act with everyone else."

Maori Kogoro waved his hands and urged impatiently: "Okay, okay, let's stop talking about this and go play table tennis."

Ayashiro Yukio also echoed excitedly: "That's right, let's take a hot spring bath and play a few rounds of billiards. That's what we call relaxation and comfort!"

There is a custom in Japan that after taking a hot spring bath, people often wear yukata and geta and have a hearty game of table tennis.

As for why they do this, it is because places with hot springs are mostly hotels. Many people often have nothing to do after soaking in the hot springs and want to play some casual games to relax.

In order to facilitate customers, the merchants wanted to find an activity that does not take up a lot of space, is easy to maintain, has simple rules and is suitable for all ages to entertain customers. After much consideration, it seems that table tennis is the most suitable.

Then, because various hot spring hotels have ping-pong tables, playing ping-pong after taking a hot spring bath has become a Japanese tradition.

"Auntie Horikoshi..."

Listening to the conversations of the crowd and looking at the lonely figure of Yumi Horikoshi, Ran Maoli could not help but recall the words and deeds of her father, an old classmate, and suddenly she felt an inexplicable worry and uneasiness in her heart. She opened her mouth and was about to ask, but was interrupted by the voice of Yukio Ayashiro.

"Leave her alone."

Ayashiro Yukio waved his hand nonchalantly, with a bright smile on his face, and said in a relaxed tone: "She may just be tired from traveling all the way. She will be fine after a rest."

Afterwards, Ayashiro Yukio excitedly cast his eyes towards Maori Kogoro, Nakamichi Kazushi and others standing by, his eyes gleaming with eagerness, and shouted: "Nakamichi, Jun, Maori, let's go play billiard! I haven't had a good game for a long time, I must compete with you today!"

After saying that, he strode towards the billiard table with big strides, as if he was about to rush to a passionate battlefield.

Omura Jun touched his chin, a confident arc appeared on the corner of his mouth, and his eyes showed a determined look. He responded: "Okay, I won't show mercy. I will let you see how powerful I am in a while! Don't lose too badly and cry."

While joking, he was rubbing his hands together, and couldn't wait to show off his skills on the table.

Maori Kogoro was not to be outdone. He clenched his fists, as high-spirited as a soldier about to charge into battle, and shouted, "Come on, it's still unclear who will win or lose today! My Maori Kogoro's ball skills are not to be underestimated."

After saying that, he deliberately puffed out his chest, and his confident look made everyone laugh. Nakamichi Kazushi's mouth corners slightly raised, a hint of excitement flashed in his eyes, and he continued: "Although I haven't tried my skills for a long time, I'm not someone you can easily mess with. Today, I just don't know if you, Ayashiro..."

He deliberately dragged out the last syllable to keep the audience in suspense, and his eyes were full of provocation as he looked at Ayashiro Yukio standing beside him.

Upon hearing this, Ayashiro Yukio laughed and responded, "I am a physical education teacher, so my physical fitness and ball skills are naturally not inferior! In today's game, I will not let any of you off easily, come on!"

Everyone was talking and laughing as they moved towards the billiard table. For a moment, the sounds of laughter, chatter and discussion of tactics were intertwined, making the scene very lively.

Nakamichi Kazushi was walking at the end. When he passed by the mirror in the corridor, he paused for a moment, and pulled the corners of his mouth at the back of Horikoshi Yumi in the mirror. That smile hid a deep meaning that others could not understand.

But soon, he put away his expression and quickened his pace to catch up with the crowd.

What he didn't know was that all his reactions were actually being watched by a pair of eyes in the dark.

And the owner of these eyes is none other than Bai Ye.

……

As soon as they stepped into the billiard room, bright and soft lights instantly illuminated the entire space. The brand-new billiard tables were neatly arranged, exuding an attractive luster. The air was filled with a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere, as if warmly welcoming their arrival. On the walls of the billiard room were several large posters of well-known stars. The posters showed the stars swinging their rackets in a dashing and heroic manner, vividly showing the charm and passion of this sport, which made people excited.

After entering the room, Kogoro Mori, Kazushi Nakamichi and others smiled at each other, walked to the table first, and then skillfully selected rackets in front of the racket rack.

Kogoro Maori's fingers gently stroked over the rackets as if he was stroking a precious treasure. Finally, he selected one, held it in his hand to try the feel, and nodded with satisfaction.

Nakamichi Kazushi stood in the corner, his arms folded across his chest, his eyes wandering back and forth among the crowd, his fingers tapping his right leg unconsciously, and the mysterious plan in his mind became clearer and clearer.

Ayashiro Yukio also chose a racket and tried the feel of it with skillful movements. Then he looked at Maori Kogoro with a challenging look in his eyes.

After seeing Ayashiro Yukio pick out his racket with the same skillful movements, Maori Kogoro couldn't wait to take his chosen racket and stand in front of the table. Then he held his head high, put on the posture of a professional player, rubbing his hands and full of ambition: "Yukio, today I will let you see how powerful I, Maori Kogoro, am. Don't let me beat you to a pulp!"

Ayashiro Yukio raised the corners of his mouth slightly, revealing a confident and calm smile, and responded slowly: "Kogoro, you are indeed good at detective work, but on this table tennis table, it is not certain who will win or lose." As he said, he picked up the racket, gently turned his wrist, and moved his shoulders. His smooth movements were full of confidence in his own strength, and his eyes also revealed his anticipation for this contest.

Nakamichi Kazushi stepped forward and patted the two men on the shoulders with a meaningful smile on his face: "Haha, you two are so confident, then this game will definitely be exciting. I can't wait to see whether you are worthy of your reputation, Kogoro, or whether Yukio is just hiding his true strength."

Maori Kogoro heard this and laughed: "Haha... Nakamichi, just wait and see me show my might and beat Yukio so hard that he can't fight back!"

Nakamichi Kazushi smiled slightly, "Then I'll wait and see."

……

The game started soon. Ayashiro Yukio stood in front of the table calmly, then gently picked up the ping-pong ball with his slender fingers and threw it high into the air. At the moment when the ball reached the top, his wrist shook violently like a nimble snake -

"Snapped!"

A sharp backspin ball with strong rotation, like a bolt of lightning cutting through the night sky, swept across the net at lightning speed and hit Kogoro Mori's backhand.

Kogoro Mori quickly turned sideways and accurately used the racket in his hand to meet the flying ping-pong ball. His movements were done in one smooth go without any delay.

The white ball drew a beautiful arc like a rainbow on the smooth table, but before everyone had time to admire it, Ayashiro Yukio hit the ball back with a lightning speed and a fierce smash with such force that it seemed to penetrate the table.

"Da da da!"

The ping-pong ball flew back and forth between the two of them, and the crisp sound of the collision was particularly clear in the quiet hall. Maori Kogoro's eyes were focused, and his feet moved flexibly, sometimes attacking swiftly, and sometimes defending calmly.

Ayashiro Yukio always maintained an extraordinary calmness. Every time he hit the ball, the strength and angle were just right, accurate and deadly, as if he could see through Kogoro Mori's every thought and respond in advance.

The two players played each ball with exquisite precision, and the score was in a stalemate in the fierce confrontation, with one player chasing the other and the other rising alternately. As the game gradually entered its climax, the atmosphere on the scene became more and more tense, as if shrouded by an invisible high pressure, making people breathless.

Their eyes followed the small white ball closely, as if it carried some invisible contest.

Just when the game entered a white-hot stage and the score was extremely close, Kogoro Mori suddenly made a powerful smash, and the ping-pong ball rushed towards the corner of the table of Yukio Ayashiro like a cannonball!
He thought it was a sure-kill shot that could easily help him win, but he didn't expect that Ayashiro Yukio would react faster. He made a stunning counter-attack and hit the ball back steadily. The action was done in one go, as smooth as flowing water.

When Kogoro Mori saw this, his face suddenly changed and he rushed forward to try to remedy the situation.

"Snapped!"

In the end, it was still a step too late. The ball hit the net, hit the edge of the table heavily, and bounced out.

"Out of bounds!"

Ayashiro Yukio raised the corners of his mouth slightly, with a smug smile, and announced loudly, "Very good, I won this round!"

Maori Kogoro was stunned for a moment, as if he had not yet recovered from this sudden defeat. He then scratched his hair in annoyance, "Damn it, it was my mistake this time. I will never lose again next time!"

He held the racket tightly, beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, his eyes were full of unwillingness, and he secretly vowed to win back in the next game...

(End of this chapter)