Chapter 327: Lucifer Plus Yuuko, the Tsundere Alliance
Atobe Keigo, in a rare display of patience, chose not to depart after his match. Instead, he remained with Sonoko and the others, opting to wait for Seigaku's upcoming game. Naturally, Sonoko wasn't one to let such a golden opportunity pass her by. She immediately engaged Atobe in a war of words, and the two began to bicker incessantly.
Ichihara Yuuko watched them with a playful glint in her eyes. "Hmm~ Sonoko, aren't you getting thirsty? You two have been at it for quite a while now."
Sonoko's throat was indeed starting to feel raw, but she refused to back down. "Sister Yuuko! I'm not thirsty at all!" she declared stubbornly. "Whoever drinks water first loses! There's no way I'm letting this arrogant brat get the better of me!"
"Hah! Old hag, the word 'lose' doesn't exist in this great one's dictionary!" Atobe scoffed, flicking his hair.
"Bring it on, you bastard Atobe! Whoever takes a sip of water first today is a complete idiot!"
"How childish," he sneered. "But this great me accepts your challenge!"
Lucifer let out a long, weary sigh. "This is getting troublesome… Those two are never going to stop. Yuko, let's go find a place to buy something to drink. Just watching them argue is making me thirsty."
Ichihara Yuuko nodded, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Mm, I agree. What about Cerberus? Uh… Cerberus, where did you run off to?"
At the sound of her name, Cerberus trotted back happily, holding up a brand-new tennis ball in her hand like a trophy. "The staff just gave me a tennis ball!" she announced with a wide grin.
"And then?" Lucifer asked.
"There is no 'and then'!"
"Then why are you so happy?"
"Uh… I don't know!"
A collective sigh escaped from Ichihara Yuuko and the others as they looked at Cerberus. The girl was as innocently cute as ever, a sweet airhead whose simple nature was likely the source of her incredible affinity with others.
"Phew, I feel human again," Lucifer said, taking a long sip from her can. "Seriously, how does Sonoko have that much energy to argue? My throat was getting dry just from watching them."
The group stood before a row of vending machines, each holding a cold drink as they chatted. Courage nodded with a hint of awe. "That's true. But that boy, Atobe, is really something else. He played a full tennis match and can still argue with so much vigor."
"Agreed," the others chorused.
Ichihara Yuuko leaned against the wall, swirling the can of soda in her hand. "I wonder what Ren is up to right now? Sister Lucifer, you would know, wouldn't you?"
Lucifer nodded. "I don't even need to guess. He's probably working out. Kirari and Sayaka should be in the middle of their own practice by now, too. But… Yuko," she said, her voice turning sly.
"To suddenly ask about Ren… are you missing him?"
"Pfft—Cough, cough, cough!" Yuuko sputtered, nearly choking on her drink. "How could that be! I was simply curious about what he was doing, that's all."
"Oh? Mmm," Lucifer hummed, a knowing smirk on her face.
Ichihara Yuuko said nothing more, turning her attention back to her soda. It was, admittedly, the first time she had ever drunk something like this. Her preferences had always leaned towards alcohol, water, or fine teas. But she had to admit, the crisp, sweet fizz was surprisingly delicious.
"Hmm? There it is… Excuse me."
As Yuuko was lost in her thoughts, a boy wearing a white cap and carrying a tennis bag approached the vending machines. His gaze slid past the group of beautiful women as if they were part of the scenery, showing no interest whatsoever. Noticing she was in his way, Yuuko gracefully stepped aside.
The boy offered a quiet "thanks," then slotted a coin into the machine. A can of grape-flavored Ponta clattered into the dispenser. He picked it up, paused for a moment in thought, then inserted another coin and retrieved a second can before turning to leave.
Ichihara Yuuko raised a delicate eyebrow. "That kid… he gives off the same tsundere vibe as Atobe."
Lucifer nodded in immediate agreement. Courage, however, just looked confused. "Eh?! How can you two tell?! I don't sense anything like that at all!"
"It's probably just intuition," Lucifer said with a casual shrug.
Cerberus leaned in and whispered, "Isn't it because Lucifer is tsundere…?"
"I am not a tsundere!" Lucifer shot back instantly.
Courage nodded sagely. "Lucifer is definitely a tsundere… So, does that mean… Yuko, you're also a tsundere?"
"I am not a tsundere!" they both snapped in perfect unison.
Ichihara Yuuko and Lucifer exchanged a quick glance before both silently looking away. Whether they were tsundere or not was a truth they both knew perfectly well in their hearts.
Just then, Sonoko came running over. Without a word, she bought a can from the machine and chugged nearly half of it in one go.
Ichihara Yuuko smiled. "Sonoko, you lost."
Sonoko wiped her mouth, a triumphant grin spreading across her face. "Lost? Impossible! That brat Atobe drank water first! Hahaha!"
"How did you manage that?"
A devious smirk appeared on Sonoko's face. "Seigaku's team arrived while we were still arguing. While Atobe was busy talking to Tezuka, I just handed him a bottle of water. He took it and drank it out of habit. Hahaha! He dares to play mind games with me? He's still a hundred years too early! Hahaha!"
Lucifer sighed, a hint of admiration in her tone. "A bit mischievous, but impressive still. You were definitely trained by Kirari, weren't you?"
"Uh… That's not important right now! We should go! Seigaku is about to enter the court!"
"Mm, Yumiko just messaged me," Lucifer added. "She wants me to report Shusuke and Tezuka's scores to her later. Honestly, Yumiko really does play the part of both an older sister and a doting mother."
Cerberus's ears twitched. "Yumiko, very good!" she chirped.
"Mm, got it. Let's head over. Shusuke and the others probably aren't expecting all of us to be here. This is also a good chance for you, Yuko, to get to know Shusuke properly. He's family, after all."
Ichihara Yuuko was momentarily taken aback, then gave a small nod and silently fell into step beside them. As she glanced at Sonoko, however, she couldn't help but ask, "Eh? Sonoko, why did you buy so many drinks?"
"Ah? I was dying of thirst after arguing with that Atobe for so long! Of course I need to rehydrate!"
"But won't you need to use the restroom a lot?"
"It doesn't matter! The restroom is super close! Let's go, let's go!"
When they arrived, the Seigaku team members were gathered around, scolding a boy in a white cap. As Lucifer's group approached, all of Seigaku's regulars turned to look. Kikumaru Eiji immediately whispered, "Wow! So many pretty girls!"
Shusuke Fuji and Tezuka Kunimitsu were both visibly surprised. Coach Ryuzaki Sumire noticed their reaction, but before she could say anything, she saw the women walk directly up to her two star players.
Fuji smiled his usual gentle smile. "Sister Lucifer, Sister Cerberus, Sister Courage, what are you all doing here? And this is…?"
Sonoko grinned. "Shusuke, you should call her Sister Yuko. Her relationship with Brother Ren is very special, you know."
The subtle implication caused both Shusuke Fuji and Tezuka Kunimitsu to start slightly before they nodded in understanding.
Coach Ryuzaki looked on, a bit puzzled. "Tezuka, do you and Fuji know them?"
Tezuka gave a stoic nod.
Fuji's smile widened. "You could say we're very familiar."
"Mm, if that's the case, you two can chat for a bit," Ryuzaki said, accepting the explanation. "Fuji, you're in Doubles Two, so don't be late. Alright! The rest of you brats, get to your warm-ups and prepare for the match! Kawamura, you get ready too!"
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