I’m an Introvert, but After Taking Care of the School’s Most Beautiful Girl Who Lives in an Apartment When She Was Sick, She Became Attached to Me and Started Inviting Me Over to Her Place! - Chapter 26

Chapter 26

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“Umm… Then, would you mind telling me what you’re having trouble with specifically?”

“Hmm~ Well, my overhand passes don’t really go to where the other person’s hands are. I can get height, but the distance just doesn’t…”

“Ahh, I see. Then why don’t you try passing overhand with Kaede-san as a test?”

Having been completely cornered with no way out, Sorato quietly gave up and began instructing Natsuki. Half in despair, thinking “My peaceful life is probably over,” he carefully asked her about the points that weren’t going well.

The gazes being directed at Sorato from around them had, at some point, grown sharp and faintly cold. They carried hints of jealousy and resentment, but most of all, it was likely because he was “a guy being talked to by Natsuki.”

“Okay, Kaede! I’m going to send it your way!”

Calling out to Kaede, who had moved back to give space between them, Natsuki lightly tossed the ball up and gently pushed it with her pale, slender fingers, making a soft pon sound. The ball traced a loose arc and, without spinning, landed with a dull thump just short of Kaede-san’s hands.

“See? It ends up like this. Do you have any advice?”

With a serious look, Natsuki tilted her head and asked Sorato, who had been closely watching the entire sequence. In response, Sorato’s earlier agitation vanished completely. Keeping his focused gaze, he picked up the ball that had fallen in front of Kaede and spoke.

“Hmmm… You’re basically doing everything right. If I had to point something out, it’d be that your posture isn’t stable, and maybe some more advanced technique stuff… Honestly, I’m not joking when I say there’s barely anything for me to teach you.”

“Then could you just teach me how to fix my posture?”

“Okay. Then I’ll first demonstrate properly in a practical way, and also recreate your posture from an objective viewpoint, Natsuki-san.”

“Yeah! Thank you!”

“Alright, let’s start. First, Natsuki-san’s form. Your hand shape and direction are good, but you’re not fully making use of each movement. Simply put, what’s important is straightening your knees and keeping your hand position steady.”

“Oh? And what do you mean by that?”

“As something to be mindful of… During underhand receives, you were properly using your knees to contact the ball, right?”

“Yeah, yeah. Wait. Were you watching me when I was practicing earlier?”

“Ah—uh. Ahem. Anyway, overhand is the same. Right before you push the ball with your fingers, you also use the power from your knees to push it out. That’s the basic prerequisite for increasing distance… I think.”

That was close… I almost slipped up… No, I basically did.

Sorato had inadvertently used her earlier underhand receive as an example, but to know that, he would’ve had to be watching Natsuki at the time.

“Hmmm, I see. I get it. Fufu, I’ll let it slide for now~♪”

Quick to catch his slip of the tongue, Natsuki relaxed her cheeks into a sly grin and, as she passed by him, stood beside Sorato and whispered that into his ear. That smile was just like the mischievous, devilish expression she had shown yesterday.

“…Anyway, you probably won’t understand if I just tell you to suddenly use your knees. Natsuki-san, try another overhand pass.”

“Hm? Got it—hup!”

“Stop! Hold it right there!”

“Huh?!”

After receiving the ball from Sorato, she sent it overhand toward Kaede again. This time, she tried to use her knees the way Sorato had shown her, copying him as best she could. The moment she pushed the ball from her fingers, Sorato’s eyes flew open wide, and he told Natsuki not to move.

Though confused by the sudden instruction, Natsuki reflexively tensed her body and froze in place. She glanced sideways to check where Sorato was, but the spot where he had been moments earlier was now empty.

“…Okay, so first, right here—do this…”

“Hyah?!”

Just as Natsuki began searching for Sorato with only her eyes, a voice came from right beside her ear. It was close enough to be a whisper, slightly low and gentle. A voice she had heard countless times over the past two days, one she had relied on again and again. But the sudden ambush (attack?) startled even her, and Natsuki let out a small, thin scream.

“Hm ? What is it? —Hey!? Why are you screaming!? It makes it sound like I did something sexual!! (whispering)”

“No, it’s nothing! Sorry! —You can’t blame me! You showed up so suddenly! Anyone would be surprised!! (whispering)”

“Really? Then I’ll continue—Wait, I’m sorry!? Yesterday we were this close! Why are you so fragile at school!? (whispering)”

From the outside, it looked like an ordinary conversation. But beneath that surface, at extremely close range and in voices too low for others to hear, an embarrassed back-and-forth had begun. In terms of distance, it was no different from when they’d spent time together at Natsuki’s house yesterday. They were close enough for their shoulders to touch and so, Sorato was deeply confused by how Natsuki flushed red and spun her eyes around the moment he approached.

“First, keep this hand fixed so it doesn’t move, then lower your knees.”

“Okay, okay! I see~”

“And then, right before you touch the ball, straighten your knees firmly and gently push it out with your fingers wrapping around it. I’ve said it a bunch of times, but that’s really all there is to it. With your athletic sense, all that’s left is repetition. That’s it.”

“Ah, thank you. Teach me again sometime.”

“Of course. (Absolutely not!!!!)”

“Let’s go, Kaede. (She’s totally going to come ask again!!!!)”

Managing to get through the situation without letting the surrounding cold stares or their relationship be noticed, they slipped in more hidden words at parting. To avoid further threats to his peaceful life, Sorato silently mouthed a complaint toward her retreating figure.

In response, as if rebelling, Natsuki grabbed Kaede’s hand and bared her teeth with an “eeh?~” grin. It was far removed from her refined, graceful persona, but at the same time, it was the same slightly childish, prank-loving expression Sorato had seen back then.

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