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Jiyu rolled her eyes and let out a sigh.
Whether he couldn't find it because of the calluses on his fingers or because he was just impatient.
It was likely the latter. He had absolutely no talent for observing things with meticulous care. He lacked patience, too.
Pushing his hand away with a sharp thwack, Jiyu felt for her own wrist. Though it was faint, she quickly found where the pulse was. With a disinterested expression, she glanced sideways at Hunter, who was standing with his arms crossed, and held out her wrist with her finger pressed against the pulse point.
[It's right here.]
Dummy.
She left those last words unsaid.
[Let me see.]
Uncrossing his arms, Hunter grabbed her hand firmly and pulled her toward him. As he leaned down, his hair brushed against her forehead. Jiyu tilted her chin up and leaned her head back to avoid touching him.
Hunter smelled of a familiar blend of cool pine and refreshing lavender. It was the scent of the high-end detergent he used for the athletic wear he put out for laundry every day.
She recalled hearing that a single box of that detergent, containing only 60 capsules, cost about 120 dollars.
Gripping Jiyu's hand roughly, Hunter placed three fingers on the pulse point and pressed down hard. Then, he let out a short snort.
[You're not dead.]
After tossing out the teasing remark, he stared at the clock on the wall, his lips twitching.
Jiyu narrowed her eyes and glanced at his profile. Then, she lowered her gaze to her own wrist.
'When did his hands get so big? Just how much more is he going to grow?'
Since they were young, his hands and feet always grew first, followed by a sudden growth spurt in height. Her own hands were an average size, neither large nor small, but held in Hunter's grip, they looked like a child's.
'And what's with the back of his hand?'
Unlike before, blue veins stood out prominently on the back of Hunter's hand. Since she had suddenly become his 'Jinx,' she would give him a half-hearted kiss whenever he solemnly held out his palm before an important game. However, that process took barely 0.5 seconds. Consequently, she hadn't had the chance to look closely at his hands until now.
For some reason, her heart felt restless. Her palms grew damp with sweat.
Why was one minute taking so long?
[Count 81. Pulse weak. Regular.]
Finally, Hunter took his eyes off the clock and muttered. Jiyu snapped her head up.
[…What do you mean, weak?]
[It's so faint that I can barely feel it even when I concentrate as hard as I do during a serve. If you don't believe me, try pressing it yourself.]
While he recorded the figures on the printout, Jiyu frowned with worry and felt her wrist. Now that he mentioned it, the pulse did seem weak.
'Is something wrong? I haven't been sleeping well the past few days because my knees hurt; maybe that's why. Mom said it's just growing pains.'
As she tilted her head, focusing on her pulse, Hunter held out his wrist.
[Now you measure mine.]
Jiyu moved her fingers directly from her own wrist to lightly press his. Fortunately, she found the pulse point after a couple of tries. Her pale fingers pressed slightly into his healthy-colored skin. The pulse beat powerfully and regularly.
[Count 83. No, 84. Pulse… strong. Regular.]
When she finished recording it on the printout and looked up, Hunter was smiling smugly, as if to say, See?
You really have to win even in these trivial things to feel satisfied, don't you, Hunter Hamilton?
Jiyu pouted almost imperceptibly and pushed up the sleeves of her athletic shirt, which had slid down to her elbows, up to her shoulders.
[Next is the brachial pulse.]
As she extended her fair arm, Hunter leaned in so close that their knees almost touched and grabbed her forearm. He poked the inside of her arm a few times with his fingers, then frowned and looked up again.
[Hey.]
Jiyu sighed and squinted.
[What now?]
His bright blue eyes gazed at her with a strange light before he blinked rapidly.
[Why… do you have zero muscle in your arms?]
Jiyu's mouth hung open, not knowing how to respond. She did athletics three times a week at school and played tennis twice, so it wasn't as if she didn't exercise. However, no matter what, no muscle definition appeared on her arms.
[…W-what does that have to do with the pulse!]
Jiyu protested belatedly.
[It just feels weird. It's all squishy like pudding.]
Hunter muttered as if he couldn't understand, scratching the back of his neck as if it were itchy.
[What on earth… just hurry up and measure it.]
He carelessly brushed back the hair falling over his forehead and reached out again. But unlike before, he hesitated for a moment and stole a glance upward.
The moment their eyes met, both of them simultaneously looked away in opposite directions. For some reason, Jiyu felt short of breath.
With a cautious touch, Hunter pressed her forearm a couple more times before finally finding the pulse point. This minute felt even longer than the last.
[91. Pulse strength… medium. Regular.]
Having finished the record, Hunter cleared his throat with a hem and held out his arm.
[Your turn. Hurry up.]
He extended his arm and waited patiently for the slow-moving Jiyu. Finally, she straightened three fingers and gently pressed the middle of his forearm. It felt strangely ticklish, as if there were feathers on her fingertips. Hunter felt a jolt in his arm; he bit the inside of his lip and clenched his fist. As he instinctively tensed his arm, the muscles bunched tightly and the veins popped.
[Don't tense up, Hunter. I can't press down.]
Jiyu grumbled, feeling around the inside of his arm with her fingers. Unable to take it, Hunter snatched her fingers away.
[Ow! That hurts!]
He quickly let go of her hand and growled, baring his teeth.
[It's ticklish! Just press hard. Do you not even have that much strength?]
[…A-alright.]
Jiyu bit her lower lip and placed her fingers against the inside of his arm again. This time, she applied a bit more pressure, poking the inside of his arm. It was still unbearably ticklish.
[Oh, found it!]
Jiyu let out a small exclamation and pressed firmly. Her clean nails, without a single jagged edge, dug into his skin. Like someone getting a shot, Hunter turned his head away and held his breath, chest puffed out.
Damn. Why is it so hot?
Jiyu looked at the digital clock on the wall and measured his pulse for one minute, then tilted her head uncertainly.
[98. The pulse is strong, but, hmm… it seems a bit more irregular than before.]
Hunter whipped his arm away and glared at her with suspicious eyes.
[98? Did you measure that correctly? It's only been a few minutes since you checked my wrist; that's too big of a difference.]
Moreover, irregular? He hadn't even exercised, so why suddenly?
He couldn't believe a word she was saying.
Jiyu mumbled as if making an excuse.
[I'm just saying what I felt. It's not by much, but it's a bit more irregular than before. Really, I'm not lying!]
[Cut the nonsense. Where's next, the neck? Hurry up and put it out.]
Hunter decided to just get this stupid practical exercise over with.
Pouting a couple of times in dissatisfaction, Jiyu shut her mouth. Then, she quietly turned her head and leaned it to the side. As soon as the nape of her neck was exposed, the hair resting on her shoulders slid down and covered it again.
She was a rare, unique brunette with a faded brown tone mixed with honey-blonde highlights here and there. Indoors, it looked like simple brown hair, but under the sunlight, the blonde highlights sparkled, making the color seem to change whenever she moved.
Hunter instinctively reached out and brushed her hair aside. Startled, Jiyu covered her neck with her palm. Equally surprised, Hunter shouted.
[What! What is it!]
She glanced around at the others, then lowered her head and muttered. Her ears were red.
[Be quiet! Everyone is looking.]
Hunter clicked his tongue and looked around with a fierce expression.
'What are you looking at?'
As he spoke with his lips and glared, the students who had been watching them with curiosity quickly looked away. Since she was young, Jiyu couldn't stand it when people stared at her. Lauren had said it was because she had an introverted and shy personality.
He snorted and looked down at her with dissatisfaction.
'And yet she pours everything she wants to say onto me.'
Regardless, whenever Jiyu acted like that, it was strangely irritating.
It's not like the kids are shooting bullets with their eyes, so why is she so scared? Coward Jewel Parker.
[Lift your head. No one is looking now.]
Only then did she slightly lift her head and scan the surroundings with her eyes. Then, she let out a sigh.
[Now, there are only 5 minutes left, so stop playing around and finish up quickly!]
Miss Shapiro shouted over the noisy students.
[No time. Hurry up and give me your neck.]
Hunter urged Jiyu.
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