The Exorcism Tale of Hachiman

Remembering the request from Iroha Isshiki, Hachiman Hikigaya took advantage of the rare opportunity to talk to Hayato Hayama and prepared to help Iroha Isshiki confess her feelings.

"Raise?"

Upon hearing Hachiman Hikigaya's words, Hayato Hayama frowned slightly.

Because he often appeared around Yukinoshita and because of Yuigahama Yui, Hachiman Hikigaya was not too unfamiliar with his classmates and even planned to have a good chat with them.

What he didn't expect was that his first interaction with Hachiman Hikigaya would take this form...

"Besides conceding the field, the losing side must also grant the other side one additional request, of course, within reasonable limits."

Should I grant them a request?

Hayama Hayato muttered what Hachiman Hikigaya had just said, his expression turning puzzled.

He really couldn't understand where Hachiman Hikigaya, who was in a weaker position, got the confidence to propose such additional conditions.

Is it everyone? Or just you and me?

Looking at Yukino Yukinoshita, Hayato Hayama, who was tempted by the suggestion because of someone, then asked.

Although he didn't care about Hachiman Hikigaya's promise, if it were Yukinoshita...

"Then it's you and me!"

This time, before Hachiman Hikigaya could reply, Yukinoshita, eager to avenge Yui Yuigahama, impatiently interrupted their conversation.

"If that's the case, then there's no problem..."

Upon hearing that Yukinoshita was asked to do something, Hayama Hayato agreed without hesitation.

..........

Give me the ball.

Standing in the back half of her own court, Yukino Yukinoshita reached out to Hachiman Hikigaya, asking for the right to serve the tennis ball.

"Be gentle when you touch it."

Hachiman Hikigaya, instantly understanding what Yukino Yukinoshita wanted to do, obediently handed over the tennis ball and stood in front of the tennis hoop.

"Go easy on me?"

After receiving the ball, Yukino Yukinoshita looked up at Yui Yuigahama, who was acting as the referee on the sidelines.

After these few minutes, it's clear that the silly little dumpling has forgotten what just happened.

But that doesn't mean she's forgotten!

She gently bounced the tennis ball on the ground a few times, then tossed it into the air and swung her racket, aiming directly at Tobe Sho, who was standing at the back of the opponent's court!

"Was it really a slap in the face?"

After performing a simple calculation of the trajectory of the tennis ball, Hachiman Hikigaya's face twitched slightly.

Based on her usual behavior, he thought she was just cold on the outside but warm on the inside.

Now it seems we should add one more thing: holding grudges...

"Snapped!"

Amidst the utter disappointment of the two members of the Service Club, Yukinoshita's first serve missed its target and was returned by Hayama Hayato.

However, Hayato Hayama's counterattack was clearly within Yukinoshita's expectations.

Therefore, after serving, Yukino quickly moved to the net and rushed to the net by the time Hayama Hayato returned the ball!

Without the slightest hesitation, she leaped into the air and fired a shot, the trajectory of which was still towards Tobe Sho.

Hayato Hayama frowned, as if he had discovered something.

However, due to insufficient evidence, he did not question the ball but instead continued to defend and returned it to the opponent.

The sounds of tennis balls being struck echoed continuously throughout the court.

What should have been a doubles match had now completely turned into a showcase for Yukino Yukinoshita and Hayato Hayama.

Hayato Hayama now fully understands that Yukino Yukinoshita's target is Sho Tobe, but because the tennis ball has never hit Sho Tobe under his protection, he is completely unable to point this out.

"Her strength will likely be exhausted soon..."

Looking at Yukino Yukinoshita, who was already breathing slightly heavily across from him, Hayato Hayama gradually felt relieved.

Although it was indeed Tobe Sho's fault this time, he absolutely would not allow Yukino Yukinoshita to do anything to hurt his friend.

But he couldn't afford to antagonize Yukino Yukinoshita, so he could only wait for her to exhaust herself and be defeated...

"Snapped!"

A crisp, melodious sound, completely different from the previous ones, suddenly rang in Hayama Hayato's ears, interrupting his thoughts.

Hearing the wails coming from Tobe Sho behind him, Hayama Hayato stared wide-eyed at Hikigaya Hachiman, who was holding a tennis racket opposite him.

"Sorry, I accidentally typed it off... But I'm a newbie, so you should be able to understand, right?"

Hachiman Hikigaya, who unexpectedly swung his racket and smashed a high-speed tennis ball directly into Tobe Sho's face, shrugged and said with no remorse whatsoever.

"Are you kidding me? Hitting someone with a tennis ball or something..."

Before Hayato Hayama could even speak, Ooka, who was watching from the sidelines, couldn't hold back any longer.

However, just as Ooka rolled up his sleeves, ready to rush up and beat up Hachiman Hikigaya, his actions were controlled by Yamato.

"Calm down, Ooka! If the other person is a newbie, there's nothing we can do about it..."

Yamato's tone was full of helplessness.

Honestly, even he couldn't possibly catch the ball from Yukino Yukinoshita and Hayato Hayama.

Therefore, it was clear that Hachiman Hikigaya, who was obviously just a "tennis novice," "luckily" hit the ball back and it just happened to hit Sho Tobe, so they could only accept their bad luck.

"But his attitude..."

Ooka clearly hadn't lost his mind.

The reason he wanted to take action just now was entirely because of the smug look on Hachiman Hikigaya's face.

"But the problem is that we were the ones who started with a bad attitude..."

A bitter smile appeared on Yamato's lips.

Chapter 281 I just don't want you to be tortured too badly

The game continued on the field.

Because Tobe Sho was already injured, Hayama Hayato focused most of his attention on protecting his personal safety.

As expected, in the subsequent process, Yukino Yukinoshita's target was still Tobe Sho.

Thanks to Hayato Hayama's protection, Sho Tobe was completely unharmed by Yukino Yukinoshita's attack.

After hitting that shot, Hachiman Hikigaya fell silent, as if that shot had been an accidental, unintentional one.

As time went by, the game gradually passed the halfway mark.

Since the focus wasn't on winning, the score was currently at a disadvantage for Hayama Hayato and Yukinoshita.

"Just one more game and we'll win..."

Looking at his team's five points, Hayama Hayato secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

The tension he had been under for so long in order to protect Tobe Sho had left him feeling slightly tired, but thankfully the match was about to end.

Should we go and apologize properly to the Ministry of Revenue later?

Crouching at the net, Hayama Hayato observed Yukino Yukinoshita preparing to serve while pondering his next move.

From the previous rounds, Yukino Yukinoshita had been targeting Tobe Sho, and he could clearly feel the girl's anger.

Clearly, what Tobu Sho just said offended her.

"That guy from the Ministry of Revenue is really too reckless..."

The thought that Yukinoshita, who had always maintained an icy demeanor in his memory, could be provoked by Tobe Sho, filled Hayama Hayato with a sense of helplessness.

Just as Hayama Hayato was thinking, a rapid whooshing sound flew towards him.

Sensing danger, Hayama Hayato instinctively dodged to the side.

"not good!"

While dodging, Hayama Hayato already understood Yukino Yukinoshita's plan.

His face showed anxiety, and he quickly turned around to try to intercept the tennis ball, but how could he possibly catch a tennis ball traveling at high speed?

A loud "bang!" echoed through the air.

Yukino Yukinoshita's superb serve accurately hit Sho Totobe, who was distracted due to Hayato Hayama's protection.

Of course, this time it's the face again.

Without the slightest resistance, Tobe Sho collapsed to the ground, only able to let out a soft scream.

"Tobe!"

Seeing his friend knocked to the ground, Hayama Hayato's expression changed, and he quickly ran over to check on Tobe Sho's injuries.

At the same time, Ooka and Yamato, who had been observing from the sidelines, ran in and squatted down beside them.

"Yukinoshita, you've gone a bit too far!"

After confirming that Tobe Sho's face was only scratched and bruised from the collision and that he was not seriously injured, Hayama Hayato breathed a sigh of relief and then looked at Yukino Yukinoshita with a hint of anger.

"If you're not concentrating during the match and just spacing out, even if you get hit by a tennis ball, it's entirely your own fault, right?"

Before Yukino could speak, Hachiman Hikigaya had already stood in front of her, blocking Hayato Hayama's view.

"But she clearly aimed every ball at Hubu's face on purpose!"

Although I have goodwill towards Hachiman Hikigaya and had previously considered having a proper conversation with him, defending my friend is clearly more important at this moment.

Hayato Hachiman looked down at Hachiman Hikigaya with a somber expression, his gaze passing through Hachiman's body to Yukino Yukinoshita, who was hiding behind him.

He couldn't understand why his childhood friend would do such a terrible thing.

"Is there any evidence?"