Olivia smiled and thanked Russell Junior as he handed her a towel.

“I’ll do some more individual practice.”

“More, more?”

Surprised, Russell Junior opened his mouth wide, his large pupils blinking.

“Thanks to you, Coach, I feel like I’ve gained some stamina. There’s still time left.”

Wiping her cheek with the towel, Olivia smiled. Russell Junior, who had become complacent, swept his hair that had fallen down his forehead.

Even though he knew he was being used, a sense of satisfaction was felt.

Thanks to Olivia’s consideration, he shook off the stigma. Now the ladies were busy praising Russell Junior’s knightly manners.
“That woman, why did she go to such lengths? You should be kind.”
“How can you win over a lady with strength? Ahahaha.”

Thus, it was a mutually beneficial relationship with nothing to lose.

“Ann.”

At Olivia’s call, the maid walked briskly to the opposite court. The maid took items from the bag slung over her shoulder and neatly lined them up on the grass.

Russell Junior, sitting under a parasol, wiggled his head instead of sipping the lemonade with ice.

No way.

The maid who erected the last wooden column returned to her place. Olivia tapped her toe on the racket head and adjusted her posture.

Russell Junior, who had emptied the lemonade in one gulp, put a cigarette in his mouth. It was the moment he was about to draw a match to ignite the end of the cigarette.

The blue eyes of the woman, who gripped the green ball with her fingertips, rapidly deepened.

With thin eyes, staring intently at her opponent, the gaze flickered fiercely like a raptor capturing prey in the sky.

The ball rose into the air. At the same time, Olivia’s body bent and bounced like a bow.

Pang! She precisely hit the falling ball with the center of the racket. The rapidly flying ball struck the first wooden column without any error and rolled away.

Oh my goodness!

Russell Junior, who had been watching the scene blankly, suddenly stood up and shouted.

Oops, it’s hot! The loosely held cigarette fell onto his thigh, and the white pants turned black from the burn.

Ann, who had been quietly watching Olivia, pinched her palm to hold back laughter. Despite looking rough and coarse on the surface, Russell Junior had many unexpectedly cute aspects.

The day’s practice ended after Olivia knocked down all ten wooden columns.

“Aren’t you hungry? Let’s go have lunch.”

Russell Junior said in a dignified voice.

After practice, Russell Junior and Olivia had lunch together. It was a pure-hearted kindness.

It took about an hour and a half from Riverside 3rd Street to here. Even if they had a quick breakfast, it was still seven o’clock. It was time to get hungry just by dilly-dallying.

For her, who quietly refused, Russell Junior used the pretext of athlete’s stamina management. And that excuse worked.

When Russell Junior checked the availability of the deck seats, the steward guided them outside. It was an open space with a refreshing view towards the sea.

“Here. It’s so wonderful.”

Olivia exclaimed. Russell Junior was thrilled at her appearance. He pulled back her chair like a gentleman and sat across from her when Olivia took her seat.

“It’s as impressive as the Grand Bleu for seafood here. If you need a recommendation, let me know.”

“Then please recommend.”

“Noble fillet of sea bream.”

“Sounds good.”

While Russell Junior placed the order, Olivia turned her head towards the sea. The white tablecloth fluttered in the sea breeze.
Sleek boats practicing maneuvering passed gracefully in accordance with the rhythm. Time flowed calmly like the sea until the staff withdrew, and the food arrived.

As Russell Junior waited for the food to arrive, he began talking about the play of Princess Annblin, the all-time record holder in victories. Shortly afterward, a whiskey-filled pumpkin-colored glass and a long glass filled with soda were placed on the table.

“Princess, the coach, is also a skilled player who won three consecutive times. I’ve faced her once. Unfortunately, the day before, I injured my wrist.”

“Oh, really? That player was really lucky.”

“Well, that’s right.”

Russell Junior shrugged his shoulders. Excited, he began to share his experiences from the tournaments he had participated in, exaggerating and dramatizing them.

“Once, I met her in the semi-finals against Edgar.”

“Really?”

Olivia, clenching her hands together, leaned slightly forward. Her pupils enlarged.

The surface of the blue eyes, seen up close, sparkled like the sea surface right in front of the nose. More pressure was added to Russell Junior’s shoulders.

“It was the last set, and it went to deuce.”

“Oh! My goodness. That must have been thrilling.”

The woman’s body got even closer. Holding her breath, as if listening to the legendary exploits of a hero, she pricked up her ears, and when she looked only at the woman in front of her, her heart strangely raced.

“…….”

“So, what happened next, Coach?”

Olivia imagined Edgar on the green court. A man leaping high into the sky, sending a powerful serve.