Chapter 8

At 3:30 PM, Tsukushi Higurashi packed his desk with the same speed he used to exorcise curses and bolted out the door with his backpack.

Sawada Jugo was a second too slow; by the time he turned his head, the figure was gone, leaving him to gnash his teeth in frustration.

Niou and Marui gleefully caught up to their new manager.

Niou: "Don't walk so fast, Higurashi-kun."
Marui: "Wait for us, Higurashi-kun."
Higurashi: "?"
"Niou-kun, Marui-kun, please speak properly."

Niou wore a smirk, his fox-like eyes scanning him, while Marui stroked his chin, his gaze wandering up and down.

"What is it?" Higurashi asked warily.
"Puri~" Niou twisted a strand of his white braid with a long finger, "Just wondering where you get such charm that the class representative is hounding you non-stop."
"Exactly~" Marui chimed in.

Higurashi looked weary: "Don't mention it. It was just a small display of skill, plus a few misunderstandings..." He recounted the events from the archery club the previous day, concluding, "If I’d known, I wouldn't have gone. Sigh, it’s all because I’m too talented."

Marui sighed: "I had no idea you practiced archery."
Higurashi said modestly: "A family tradition, nothing more than a family tradition."
Niou was curious: "Is Higurashi-kun really that good?"
Higurashi: "Indeed. I can hit two little foxes with one arrow."

Niou (the white-haired fox) Masaharu: I suspect you are threatening me, and I have evidence.

"Hahahaha—" Marui laughed loudly, wiping away tears of mirth, "You smelly fox, are you scared?"
"Heh," Niou narrowed his eyes, looking quite cunning, "Bun-ta-pig, that strawberry cake you left in the clubroom? I ate it."

That one sentence shattered Marui’s composure.
"I knew it!" the red-haired boy shouted angrily, "You wretched white-haired fox, stand still!"

Higurashi watched them chase each other into the distance, where they unfortunately collided with the patrolling Sanada, earning themselves a lecture and a double-training package.

However, while Sanada’s methods might intimidate Kirihara Akaya, they didn't work on Niou, who didn't get along with him well.

"Are you speaking as the Disciplinary Committee Chair Sanada-kun, or the Tennis Club Vice-Captain Sanada? Does this count as abuse of power?"

Marui’s ears perked up. That made sense!
He immediately stood his ground: "Sanada, is abusing authority something a righteous Disciplinary Committee Chair should do?"

Faced with this unprecedented angle, Sanada fell into deep thought.

"If there’s nothing else, we’ll be going, puri~"
"Bye!"

Before Sanada could figure out a response, the two slipped away.
Sanada came to his senses only to realize he’d been hoodwinked. His face turned dark with rage, but he could only vent impotently at their retreating backs: "Too lax!"

Higurashi, who had watched the entire scene, walked over and consoled him: "Sanada-kun, look on the bright side."
Sanada: "..."
"If you really can't swallow this, just find an excuse to punish them during practice," the manager, who appeared to have a heart of black sesame paste, suggested.
The simple and upright Sanada: "???"

Higurashi patted Sanada on the shoulder and sauntered away with a relaxed gait. As expected, watching others make fools of themselves was the best entertainment.

***

At the tennis club, Higurashi watched the boys sweat through their practice with a good mood, jotting down the day’s club log in a moment of inspiration.

When practice ended, Sanada kept the regulars behind for a meeting regarding the upcoming practice match against Hyotei. There was also one special requirement:
"Marui, your opponent will be Jiro Akutagawa of Hyotei."

The red-haired, purple-eyed boy blew a light green bubble: "It must have been that kid Akutagawa’s request. What a pain."
Though he said that, he showed no sign of resentment and accepted it readily.

In contrast, Jackal Kuwahara had a much stronger reaction.
"Bun-ta, are we going to be separated?" (Teary-eyed.jpg)

Marui, used to this, looked slightly repulsed: "Jack, it’s just one match. It’s happened before, don’t act like this is a tragic farewell."

The practice match was set for the weekend at Hyotei Academy. During this time, Higurashi had finally moved out of the Yanagi residence. The shrine had been renovated, cleaned, and refurnished, making it look brand new. Well, at least the bedroom, living room, and kitchen in the back courtyard. Higurashi didn't know how to cook, but he felt a kitchen was essential, so it was fully equipped.

Ultimately, the kitchen, which was destined to remain empty, was requisitioned by Renji Yanagi to develop his evil vegetable juices. In exchange, he would handle Higurashi’s bento boxes.

Thus, on the day of the match, the newly developed vegetable juice made its grand debut. The Hyotei boys were curious and clueless, while the Rikkaidai members were already deathly pale.

The accomplice manager from Rikkaidai suggested to the Hyotei captain: "Let’s use the Seven-Color Vegetable Juice as a penalty for losing. Hmm, one cup for every point difference. What do you think, Atobe-kun?"

The Hyotei genius, sensing something was wrong, didn't have time to stop it before the proud King agreed on the spot.
Seeing that the situation was beyond saving, the Rikkaidai team’s eyes burned with a competitive fire stronger than ever before. This was a life-or-death match; they had to win!

First match: Bunta Marui vs. Jiro Akutagawa.
Since it wasn't an official match, the schedule was casual.
"Yay! I finally get to play against Marui!" The orange-haired sheep-boy danced with excitement, like a fan who had just met his idol.
And indeed, he was.

Marui said solemnly and decisively: "Sorry, Akutagawa, I have to win this match!"
Jiro Akutagawa: "I’ll give it my all too, C~"

The match began, and Higurashi wore a benevolent smile. As the first victim of the (latest version) Seven-Color Vegetable Juice, he sincerely hoped everyone would sink together and experience what "double bullying of the palate and spirit" truly meant.
Hehehehe—

His finger tapped against the side of the water bottle. Next to it sat a disposable paper cup, seemingly ready for the punishment. He looked like the most wicked torturer in hell, a sight that filled onlookers with dread.

Kirihara Akaya saw this and couldn't help but shiver.
So scary!

"Is something wrong, Akaya?" Yanagi, standing next to him, stopped writing and asked the junior with concern.
"…Yanagi-senpai, do we really have to drink that stuff?" the sea-weed-haired boy asked, clinging to a final shred of hope.

Yanagi closed his notebook, opening his narrow eyes just a crack to reveal amber irises: "Do you have an issue with my vegetable juice, or do you feel you are destined to lose?"
"I’ll win, of course!" After saying this, he added reluctantly, "And I have no issues with the 'Most Evil Seven-Color Vegetable Juice'."

Yanagi acted as if he hadn't heard the two words the junior had added, saying the most terrifying things in the calmest tone: "Since Akaya is so confident, if you lose, the penalty will be doubled."

Kirihara Akaya’s cat-like eyes widened: "!!!"
"No problem, right, Rikkaidai’s ace?"

Hearing that title, the single-celled organism was instantly triggered: "Yanagi-senpai, no problem!"
A simple creature so easily manipulated.

Even Sanada and the rest of the Rikkaidai members looked at Kirihara with polite pity.
*Akaya, this is what you deserve.*

On the court, the two decided the victor in an unexpected way—Jiro Akutagawa fell asleep.
Yes, right in the middle of the match, he collapsed and started snoring. Everyone who saw it had to call it absurd.

Marui won, but he didn't seem very happy. Still, at least he didn't have to drink the vegetable juice, which was something to be glad about.

The sleeping sheep-boy was lifted by the scruff of his collar by Kabaji, his soft body dangling in the air like a weather doll caught in the wind. Even so, he showed no signs of waking up.

Sanada was very dissatisfied with Jiro Akutagawa’s attitude, which couldn't even be described as "casual," but since the boy wasn't a member of Rikkaidai, he forcibly restrained himself.

As they laid him on a bench, Yushi Oshitari thoughtfully covered him with a jacket. The way he moved and his expression showed it definitely wasn't the first time he’d done this; it was a proficiency that was truly bewildering.
*What is wrong with you guys at Hyotei?!*

Oshitari stood up and saw Higurashi walking toward them, holding a cup of juice poured from the water bottle.
*It really is rainbow-colored!*

He swallowed the comment. An ominous premonition lingered in his heart, and he asked with great restraint: "Higurashi-kun, what are you doing?"

"Even though Akutagawa-kun is asleep, a loss is a loss. The punishment cannot be avoided," Higurashi said. "Wouldn't you agree, Atobe-kun?"
Atobe: "…Ah, un." (Was his intuition failing? Why did he feel danger?)

Higurashi took that as consent and said considerately: "Don't worry, it'll be quick. It won't cause him any pain."
Hyotei members: "..."
*That makes it even more worrying!*

The honest Jackal Kuwahara looked at their manager’s actions and said, "Wouldn't that be a bit inappropriate?"
"Piyo, let Higurashi-kun do it, otherwise we’ll be the ones getting tormented," Niou, who saw through the truth, said sternly.

Didn't you see the strategist nearby, eagerly preparing to record the data? Someone had to be the guinea pig. What did it matter if this one was unconscious? He could be recorded as a special case study.

The con artist, who excelled at manipulating hearts, was very sharp today.
Jackal shuddered, shaking off his excess conscience: "Ah, those are the rules, nothing else to be done."
The Rikkaidai team nodded in unison, their expressions grave.

Atobe, who had accidentally overheard their conversation due to his sharp senses, covered most of his face with his hand. He quickly ran through the known information in his mind and reached a conclusion—Jiro, you're done for!

Higurashi pinched Jiro Akutagawa’s cheeks with one hand and applied a bit of pressure. The latter’s mouth opened, and the liquid with its eerie hue was poured inside.

The sleeping sheep-boy suddenly opened his eyes, showing only the whites. After a short, inexplicable "Hhh" sound, he quickly fell back into a deep sleep, his breathing and heartbeat becoming much shallower.

Hyotei members: "!!!"