Ikumi Haruhara felt a wave of disappointment. She had hoped Ho Fei-yu would bring his talent to the school team, but it seemed he had no such desire. However, the school year was long; perhaps when he realized how difficult academic life could be, he would come to her. It wouldn't be too late then.
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"Alright, students, that's it for today's PE class. Put the footballs back in the cart and you're free for the rest of the period. No need to gather for dismissal later," Ikumi announced, blowing the whistle hanging from her neck as she noticed the crowd still lingering.
"Think about it some more, Fei-yu-kun," Ikumi whispered to him before leaving.
"Suzuka-chan, I'll have to trouble you again to handle the equipment," she told Suzuka Yotsumoto, who was still watching with curiosity. Ikumi intended to head back to the office to look into Ho Fei-yu's records, hoping to find another angle to convince him not to waste his gift.
"No problem, Ikumi-sensei," Suzuka replied with a smile.
Once Ikumi left, Suzuka's gaze immediately locked onto Ho Fei-yu, her eyes full of curiosity and admiration. Though she didn't know much about football, his elegant juggling moves had truly stunned her. He moved with the grace of a dancer but the effortless cool of a man who knew exactly what he was doing.
Seeing Ikumi leave, Yūshin Aonoi prepared to swoop in. She had heard several "thirsty" girls whispering nearby and planned to stake her claim so everyone knew Ho Fei-yu was spoken for. Of course, I'm only doing this for Hana-chan! It's definitely not because I want him for myself!
However, before she could move, another figure approached him, leaving Yūshin frozen in place, blinking as she watched the two of them.
"I didn't expect you to be so talented at football on top of being so righteous," Suzuka said as she walked up to him, her tone friendly and praising. She didn't seem to care that they had only just met.
"Haha, it was alright, I guess," Ho Fei-yu said, feeling a bit shy. He wasn't the type to get close to people instantly, so he rubbed his nose awkwardly.
"I knew I wasn't wrong about you," Suzuka said, taking a step closer. She wasn't one to slack off; she had been practicing hard until she got distracted by him. Small beads of sweat clung to her forehead, neck, and cheeks.
As she closed the distance, Ho Fei-yu could clearly catch the scent of her sweat—fresh and oddly alluring. His heart skipped a beat. Through her sweat-soaked white gym shirt, he could faintly see the pink outlines of her nipples.
Suzuka kept chatting, mostly doing the talking while Ho Fei-yu listened. She kept throwing compliments his way, making him feel increasingly embarrassed. After all, this was a system skill, not something he'd earned through blood and sweat.
Miss, please stop! I'm not as great as you think! If you keep this up, I'm going to think you have "bad intentions" toward me! he joked to himself.
He could see the clarity in her eyes. Unlike Hana or Yūshin, who looked at him with complex, heavy emotions, Suzuka's gaze was bright and appreciative, without that specific "lustful" edge. Still, it was enough to make a man's mind wander.
Fortunately, the walk to return the footballs was short. After saying goodbye to the enthusiastic Suzuka, he finally let out a sigh of relief. He felt she was a bit too straightforward; her constant praise was hard to handle for someone who wasn't a social butterfly.
"What's wrong, Yūshin? Why are you standing there? Time to return your ball," Ho Fei-yu said, walking over to Yūshin Aonoi, who was standing still with her head down.
"Fei-yu-kun... do you think I'm useless?" she asked in a muffled, depressed voice.
Ho Fei-yu sighed. These girls were so prone to getting emo. "How could you be useless? You're amazing, Yūshin."
"Really? Then tell me... what's amazing about me?" she asked, looking up with pitiful, hopeful eyes.
"Uh..." Ho Fei-yu hesitated. Honestly, they hadn't known each other that long, and she often acted a bit airheaded. He couldn't think of anything specific, but he couldn't say that. "You're... cute?"
"..."
"Fei-yu-kun!" Yūshin pouted, her eyes tearing up. Cute isn't a talent!
"Ahem... you're great at making bentos, and you study hard..." He racked his brain for generic compliments. It seemed to work; she puffed out her chest and smiled. She was remarkably easy to please.
As they walked across the field, several other girls tried to ask for his contact info, but he rejected them all. Most of them had wide hips that suggested they'd been "driven" by many owners before; he wasn't interested in second-hand vehicles.
Yūshin enjoyed the private time, constantly trying to close the gap between them, brushing her arm against his. The warmth of his skin made her heart tingle. Suddenly, a sparrow flew in front of them, chirping loudly.
"Fei-yu-kun, this bird?" Yūshin asked. She remembered seeing a sparrow on his shoulder before.
"So he moved? Good job. Thanks for the hard work," Ho Fei-yu muttered. The bird was one of his "scouts" fed with Momotaro Dango to monitor Masaru Ouga. It brought news that Masaru was up to no good. Ho Fei-yu stroked the bird's head.
"Yūshin, go back to the classroom and pack your things. I have something to take care of. Let's meet at the school gate later."
Without waiting for an answer, he sprinted toward the school building. Yūshin stood there dazed for a few seconds before following his instructions.