The Kansai Villain’s Rebirth: I Accidentally Ended Up With a Harem. - Chapter 21: Akitani Mio Begins to Grow Even More Aware.

Akitani Mio Begins to Grow Even More Aware.

Akitani Mio’s POV.

“Tennouji-kun! We’re going to the infirmary!”

I called out to Tennouji-kun, who had jammed his finger, and led him toward the infirmary. It was a pretty bad sprain — we needed to ice it quickly. He’d been fired up, insisting he wanted to keep playing, but he really should’ve been treated right away… Even so, I couldn’t stop myself from cheering for him during the game. It was embarrassing, so I tried to make it look like I was cheering for everyone in class — but the truth is, I was shouting for Tennouji-kun, together with Shi-chan, completely caught up in the moment.

When Tennouji-kun stole the ball, I couldn’t help but cry out, “Yes!”

When he dribbled past the defenders so effortlessly, I found myself yelling, “Go for it!”

And when he sank the shot, Shi-chan and I jumped up and down together, screaming with joy. Just watching him made my heart race — he was… really cool.

The moment I realized he’d hurt his finger, I was already running. I’d trained for this — to help if anyone got injured — using what I’d learned as the basketball team’s manager. But I never imagined the one who needed help would be him! My heart pounded as I rushed to his side.

He was completely different from his usual self — focused, intense, surrounded by that electric tension only a real match brings. His expression was sharp, his eyes locked on the game. It made my heart flutter. And there was this… scent, not the smell of sweat, but something that just made my heart race faster. I tried to stay calm while treating him, but my hands were trembling the whole time. When I touched his hand, I wondered if I was making a weird face.

“Do your best out there!”

I called after him as he ran back onto the court. I worried — is he okay? is it still hurting? — but my fears turned out to be pointless. Tennouji-kun grew even sharper, more aggressive, perfectly in sync with Tenma-kun and the others. I realized I couldn’t take my eyes off him.

But then… there was Toshiya-kun. The passes he sent Tennouji-kun’s way looked almost cruel — forcing him to catch the ball with his injured hand. Why would he do that? Tenma-kun looked angry, but Toshiya-kun didn’t seem to care. How could he? I found myself glaring at him in disbelief.

“Like hell the great Daiki Tennouji’s getting stopped by some block! This game is ours!!!”

Tennouji-kun shouted louder than I’d ever heard before, moving into his shooting stance. Please… make it! I prayed in my heart — but instead of shooting, he suddenly passed the ball to Tenma-kun. What!? That fake-out was unbelievable! I’d never seen such a move before. Tenma-kun slammed it in with a thunderous dunk — game set! I jumped and cheered without thinking. It was just like watching professional basketball. My heart was pounding so hard I thought it might burst.

***

And now, here I am — alone in the infirmary with Tennouji-kun.
Just the two of us. In this quiet room.
Wh-what do I do… I’m so nervous I can barely breathe…!

“Sorry, Akitani-san. Causing you all this trouble…”

“N-no, it’s fine! Um… first, we’ll ice your finger.”

A jammed finger has to be cooled right away. I filled a bag with ice.

“Here, Tennouji-kun — give me your hand.”

“Whoa, cold…”

“Hehe, keep it there for a bit, okay? I’ll grab the tape and the compress next…”

I’d been here so many times with club members that I knew the infirmary inside and out. Jammed fingers, twisted ankles, icing knees — this was routine for me.

“Tennouji-kun, you were amazing out there. Seriously! If you joined the basketball team, you, Tenma-kun, and Momodani-kun could totally make Japan’s national team! That’s how good you were!”

I couldn’t hold back my excitement. The rush from the game hadn’t left me yet — especially that match against Class A.

“Haha, glad I lived up to your expectations. That game with Class A was a hell of a lot of fun.”

“Right? And that final pass! Everyone thought you were going to shoot — except Tenma-kun!”

“That’s my secret move. You’d think I’d go for it after yelling like that, right? But Tenma-kun saw the chance — he was wide open and in range. I’m glad he caught on.”

“You didn’t even plan it beforehand!? That’s amazing! You two just knew what to do in that moment?”

“Couldn’t’ve done it without him or Momodani. They’re a damn good team — thanks to them, we won.”

When he flashed that easy, confident smile, my heart started beating faster again. I couldn’t stop myself — I said what I really felt.

“T-Tennouji-kun… you were really cool.”

“…Thanks.”

That smile he gave — shy but genuine — made my chest feel tight. His embarrassed grin was so warm I thought my heart might leap right out of me.

Wha—why is my face so hot!?

“Akitani-san, your face is all red. You okay?”

“Eeeh!? I-I’m fine! Really!”

“R-really…”

Oh no, what do I do—!? R-right, the compress! I need to cut the tape—ah!

In my flustered state, I bumped the chair and lost my balance.

“Whoa there.”

Before I could fall, strong arms caught me.
Tennouji-kun’s arms.

His grip was firm, steady — I could feel the hard muscle under his uniform. His chest was broad, his arms thick, his body solid and warm. My heart pounded. N-no! It’s not like I was enjoying it or anything!!

“T-Tennouji-kun!? I—I’m sorry!! Are you okay!?”

“I’m fine. What about you? You didn’t twist anything?”

“Uh, um, n-no! I-I’m okay! Really!!”

“Ah… right. S-sorry about that.”

“N-no, don’t apologize! I didn’t mind! I mean— I’m glad— wait, what am I saying!?”

I jumped back, panicking. My face burned hotter than ever. I’d never been held by a boy before… never even liked someone this way.

Boys are… warm. Firm. Safe.
The way Tennouji-kun held me — so gentle, yet strong — made my chest ache in a strange, wonderful way.

“T-Tennouji-kun! Let’s finish the treatment! Give me your hand!”

“O-okay.”

Ahh… this is the same hand that held me just now… No! Stop thinking about it!
But… why? Why am I so aware of him? I’ve treated so many players before — helped them up, supported their shoulders — and it never made my heart race like this. Not even with Toshiya-kun.

My hands trembled slightly as I wrapped the compress and taped it in place. When I let go, I almost didn’t want to.

“There, all done. Does it hurt? Too tight?”

“Nah, it’s perfect. Thanks, Akitani-san — really. Sorry for the trouble.”

“No, don’t apologize. It was an accident. I’m just glad it wasn’t broken or dislocated.”

“Yeah. And honestly… I’m kinda glad it was you who helped me.”

Th-there it was again — that smile, that voice. My heart skipped another beat. From that moment on, I couldn’t stop being conscious of him.

“W-we should head back! Shi-chan and Rin-chan were worried too!”

“Yeah, you’re right. Thanks again, Akitani-san.”

“Y-yeah!”

His thanks made me strangely happy.

When we returned to the classroom, Shi-chan immediately ran up and hugged him. And when I saw that… something inside my chest gave a small, painful prick.

I didn’t realize it then — but that was the moment I fell in love with Tennouji-kun.