The day after Umi and I embraced the start of a new school year with renewed spirits, our familiar routine resumed.
Early in the morning, I dragged my body out of bed, still heavy with the lingering languor of spring break, and made my way to school.
Thanks to the finally warm spring weather, my girlfriend Umi by my side, and friends like Amami-san and Nitta-san who joined us on the way, I somehow managed to keep the post-vacation blues at bay. Looking back, I have no idea how I ever managed to get through that slump until last year.
"Nina, see you at lunch."
"Alright~ Asanagi, I know classes in the advanced course will be tough, but hang in there."
"See ya, Maki. Swing by our class sometime. We'll give you a warm welcome."
"Yeah. I'll get around to it."
After changing into my indoor shoes at the entrance, I parted ways with Nitta-san and Nozomu, whose classrooms were on a different floor.
My class, 10, which I shared with Amami-san, and Umi's class, 11, were assigned to a separate floor due to space constraints. This meant there weren't many opportunities to visit Nitta-san and Nozomu's classes outside of lunch.
"Oh, right. Maki, just so you know, don't you dare get lazy just because I'm not around, okay? Don't let someone convince you it's okay to doze off in class."
"Hmph, I'm a second-year now. I can handle staying awake… except for math, classical literature, and maybe physics and ethics."
"Amami-san, I do believe the general public refers to that as 'most of the time'."
I needed to be careful myself, but I also had to keep a close eye on Amami-san.
Even with Umi's constant warnings—and the occasional forehead flick or light tap on the head—she often drifted off near the end of classes she found uninteresting.
By the way, today's schedule was… first period English, which was still manageable, followed by second period Math II, third period Chemistry, fourth period PE, and after lunch, fifth period classical literature.
"…I see. This is a tough lineup no matter how you look at it."
After Umi secretly asked me to 'look after Yuu, just in case,' I followed Amami-san into the classroom she had already entered.
"Now, I did say I'd try to communicate more actively from now on…"
As I'd declared in my self-introduction, I intended to take the initiative to communicate as much as possible, but as I scanned the room from my seat, the situation didn't look very promising.
It was only the second day with our new class, and most of the groups had already formed around people who were classmates last year or members of the same club.
The only person I could call a friend in this class was Amami-san… but she was already at her desk, surrounded by a few girls from her clique, happily exchanging greetings.
"…It's a bit much for a guy like me to just waltz into that circle. If I did, Amami-san would probably welcome me without a problem, but the other girls wouldn't be so accommodating."
"! Ehehe, Maki-kun~"
Amami-san, noticing my gaze, gave me a small wave. She was probably concerned about me, having been separated from my only male friend, Nozomu, leaving me to quietly prepare for class on my own. But every time she did that, a fresh wave of jealous glares from the boys pierced right through me.
Well, it was probably best to just wait quietly for things to cool down for now. Rushing in and getting worked up wouldn't do any good, and besides, there would be plenty of opportunities to get to know people from now on.
Until last year, I'd been completely apathetic, content to blend into the background in a corner of the classroom with no intention of participating. But school events were packed starting from April.
(Maehara) Umi
(Asanagi) ? What is it?
(Maehara) Is now a good time?
(Asanagi) It's not a bad time, but it's not a good time… but I guess it's not not a bad time.
(Maehara) Hey.
(Asanagi) Hehe.
(Asanagi) I'm fine~
As the bell rang and morning homeroom began, I took advantage of my inconspicuous seat at the back to have my usual morning exchange with Umi. It felt lonely now that we were in separate classes, not seeing her no matter where I looked. But just by exchanging messages like this, I could picture the exact expression she was making right now.
Both Umi and I were probably desperately covering our mouths with our hands to hide our smirks.
"Alright, that's all for today's announcements. Now then, after a five-minute break, we'll move on to first period…"
Just as the teacher finished taking attendance and placed her English textbook on the lectern, the door flew open with a bang.
"…"
The one who entered the classroom without a word was a girl with light, wavy hair and a sloppily worn uniform that stood out.
It was Arae Nagisa.
"Arae-san."
"? Yeah, what's up?"
"Is there something you want to say to me and the rest of the class? There is, right?"
"Ah~… Sorry, I was late 'cause I wasn't feeling well."
After a brief moment of twitching her lips into a frown, she bowed her head slightly to the teacher.
"I see. But if you're going to be late, you need to contact us beforehand. Same as yesterday, if we don't hear anything, we'll get worried."
"I thought I called yesterday, but I was so out of it with a fever that I must have dialed the wrong number. Sorry, I'll be more careful… Is that good enough for ya?"
"…It can't be helped. If you understand, then get to your seat quickly. The last seat by the window. Also, make sure to wear your uniform's necktie or ribbon properly."
"Sorry, forgot my tie today. Oh, and the ribbon too."
"......Make sure you don't forget it from tomorrow onwards."
"Yes, I understand~"
Ignoring Yagisawa-sensei's bitter expression, Arae-san nonchalantly plopped down in the seat she had gotten from yesterday's seat change.
The classroom, which had been peaceful until then, was suddenly enveloped in silence.
Most of the classmates, myself included, were probably focused on Arae-san, but everyone was unnaturally staring straight at the blackboard.
I felt an unapproachable aura about her.
"Well then, let's get back on track and turn to page 3 of the textbook… Arae-san, could you read it aloud?"
"I was absent yesterday, so I don't have the textbook for any subject, let alone English."
"That means you should ask someone nearby to share theirs. You are expected to participate in class, even without a textbook."
"…Ah~ so that's what you mean."
Arae-san moved her mouth slightly again.
…I knew it, she must have clicked her tongue. And she definitely muttered "Annoying" under her breath.
It was only the second day of the new semester, and she was already showing a very rebellious attitude towards her homeroom teacher.
As instructed, Arae-san reluctantly glanced at the people in the seats around her, but of course, the unlucky classmates who ended up next to her avoided eye contact. From the outside, it might seem cold, but if I were in their position, while I wouldn't stubbornly refuse to lend her my textbook, I'd still be silently praying not to be targeted.
Arae-san, sensing this immediately, let out a small sigh.
"…Sensei, it seems like no one will lend me their textbook, so maybe you could ask someone else──"
"──Yes!"
However, before she could finish, Amami-san raised her hand straight up, her beautiful golden hair fluttering.
At times like this, Amami-san always did something 'Amami-san-like'.
"Sensei, if it's okay with you, may I lend my textbook to Arae-san? We're sitting a bit far apart, though."
"If that's fine with you, Amami-san… but then you won't have anything to read from."
"I'll just ask the people near me to show me, so it's fine. …Or so I said without asking."
──No, don't worry about it.
──Amami-san, let's put our desks together.
──If there's anything you don't understand, feel free to ask.
As if to say, "If it's for Amami-san," the female students sitting around her immediately offered their support.
Considering Amami-san's usual behavior, the difference in reaction compared to Arae-san was natural, but I had mixed feelings about it. It was her own fault, reaping what she sowed, but Arae-san was likely to become increasingly isolated in the class from now on.
But why would Arae-san do something like this on the first day of class?
She should know from attending school regularly that behaving so selfishly would lead to this.
Maybe she was upset about being separated from her close friends… No, only Umi and I would complain to the teacher for such a childish reason.
…No, what a shameful thing we've done.
Yagisawa-sensei just laughed it off and patted us on the shoulders with a lukewarm look in her eyes, saying, "My, my, youth~"
"So, here you go, Arae-san. You can use it for a while until you get all your own textbooks, okay?"
Amami-san handed her the textbook with her usual bright smile, not discriminating against her just because she was a difficult person.
"…Thanks."
It seemed she didn't want to cause any more trouble, as she obediently accepted the English textbook.
Perhaps Amami-san's smile was too dazzling, because Arae-san's dark brown eyes never once looked directly at her.
After a morning that felt unusually long, it was finally lunchtime.
As promised, I met up with Umi, Nitta-san, and Nozomu from the other classes, and we spent a brief respite in our usual spot.
What we were talking about was, of course, about Arae-san from first period.
I had gotten some information from Nitta-san yesterday and was mentally prepared (or so I thought), so I wasn't that shocked… but as they say, seeing is believing, and I was still quite surprised.
"Ugh, that Arae-cchi, what a greeting right from the get-go… Our class is pretty rowdy too, but I guess it's better than being weirdly silent."
"Hey Nina-chi, has Arae-san always been like that, since first year? It's like she's got this aura that says she'll bite anyone who looks at her."
"Hmm~ I heard she sometimes skipped school saying she was sick, and she would openly avoid teachers she didn't get along with… but I don't think she ever went this far."
After first period, Arae-san had quieted down following our homeroom teacher Yagisawa-sensei's English class… or rather, she just slept with her head on the desk the whole time. When she did wake up, she would glare at the boy in front of her when the class printouts were passed around, scaring him more than necessary. At the very least, it was hard to say she was participating in class seriously.
"Anyway, now we have a pretty good idea of what kind of person this Arae girl is. Yuu, I don't mind you lending her a textbook from time to time, but you have to be careful not to get any more involved than that. I don't know why, but I have a feeling that you and Arae-san are hopelessly incompatible."
I honestly agreed with Umi on that.
Watching Arae-san, I honestly got a slight feeling that I was looking at my old, twisted self.
But it was because we had some similarities that I understood.
It's only been two days since she became my classmate, so I can't say for sure, of course.
But Amami-san and Arae-san are not so much light and shadow as they are oil and water.
Not polar opposites, but simply unable to mix.
However, Amami-san, who had been warned by her best friend, seemed to have a different impression.
"If you say so, Umi, I'll be careful from now on… but, hmm…"
"…What? Are you still worried about that Arae girl? Even though she borrowed your textbook and didn't even thank you properly."
"Ah, ahaha… That did surprise me, and it's still bugging me a little. But I just can't bring myself to think, 'I hate her!'"
"Really? Well, I'm an outsider in this matter, so I'll have to leave it to your judgment as her classmate…"
Amami-san seemed to be at a loss. Unlike Umi and me, who had more or less decided how to interact with her, she seemed to want to wait and see a little longer.
Her thinking wasn't wrong, and if that's what she thought, then I had nothing to say and would respect her decision… but that in itself gave me a bad feeling.
Oil and water.
I just hoped they didn't both get too heated and cause a big explosion… If it came to that, maybe Umi, I, and Nitta-san, who knows Arae-san, should step in to help.
"Man, Class 10 with Maki and Amami-san has gotten into a real mess. And there's not much time left until the class tournament."
"""""…"""""
"Huh? Wh-what's with the four of you all staring at me? I didn't say anything weird, did I?"
"That's… not a problem, but…"
"Yeah. As Maki-kun says, Seki-kun is normal, right? Right, Umi?"
"Well… but I do feel like you didn't have to say that right now."
"Seki, try to read the room a little, will you?"
"I was trying to read the room and change the subject by bringing up the class tournament!"
It was perfectly normal for Nozomu to be worried about that, but with the Arae-san issue still smoldering, talking about the near future was a bit of a headache.
It wasn't a problem for the boys, who were unlikely to interact with Arae-san directly, but for Amami-san, as a girl, it would be hard to avoid.
Amami-san, who takes everything she does seriously, and Arae-san, who has shown a passive attitude towards everything so far.
The announcement of the event and deciding the members were still a little while away… but I hoped my bad feeling from before wouldn't come true.
The class tournament is a customary event at our high school held at the end of April, before Golden Week, with the aim of deepening friendships with the new classmates we'll be spending another year with.
The events change slightly every year, but they are mostly team sports such as volleyball, soccer, softball, and basketball.
This means that we have to participate in at least one event every year.
…Well, now. I'm sure I participated last year, but for some reason, I have almost no memory of it. The only thing I remember is standing blankly in a corner of the court, barely involved in the game.
When I told Umi about it, she gave me a silent forehead flick for some reason, but that's another story.
Today was the day to decide the members for the class tournament.
"Alright, about this year's class tournament, the boys will be playing softball, the girls will be playing basketball, and there will be a mixed-gender six-person volleyball team. We have just the right number of boys and girls, so everyone has to participate in one event."
The handout from Yagisawa-sensei contained an overview of the class tournament.
In each sport, teams are divided into several groups for a league tournament, and the team that finishes first in each league competes for the championship in a tournament format.
There are quite a few games for each grade, so the class tournament is scheduled from morning until just before school closes in the evening, which, for me personally, is a pretty long day.
"Once you've decided which event you want to participate in, write your name on the blackboard. It's first-come, first-served, so once the spots are filled, that's it~"
After scribbling "Boys' Volleyball, Boys' Softball" and "Girls' Basketball A/B, Girls' Volleyball" on the blackboard, the teacher moved to a corner of the classroom.
Apparently, she was leaving the rest to the students' initiative.
"…Volleyball, softball."
I looked back and forth at the words on the board, then glanced down at the handout in my hand again.
I might as well be honest.
It didn't matter to me which one it was. Of course, I meant that I wouldn't be a great asset in either of them. I'd do my best since I was participating and I intended to win, but whether that would make me play better was another matter.
I'd been exercising with Umi regularly, and I felt like my body had changed a little compared to last year, but I was far from athletic, so you can imagine how I am with sports that use balls or equipment.
As I was muttering to myself that such a bad "either one is fine" is quite rare, my phone vibrated, right on cue.
(Asanagi) Which one are you going to choose, Maki?
(Maehara) The one that's less tiring.
(Asanagi) Hey!
(Maehara) I'm sorry.
(Maehara) But I've never played either of them properly.
(Asanagi) You've played both in PE, right? How was it then?
(Asanagi) Let's start with volleyball.
(Maehara) I tried to set the ball, failed, and sprained my finger.
(Asanagi) …Softball.
(Maehara) When I was in the outfield, I tried to catch a fly ball in a weird way and, unluckily, sprained my finger.
(Asanagi) Maki, are your finger bones okay? They haven't solidified in a weird direction or anything, have they?
(Maehara) Both were minor enough to be treated with first aid at the nurse's office, so I'm fine.
(Maehara) I think.
(Asanagi) Hey. Stop planting seeds of anxiety in your girlfriend's mind so casually.
(Asanagi) Well, leaving that aside for now, it's a tough choice.
(Asanagi) I'm worried you'll get injured no matter which event you participate in.
(Maehara) D-don't say such weird things.
However, it was true that if I approached it with a half-hearted attitude, that flag might become a reality.
Was it softball, where I could relax to some extent until my turn came, but where there was a high risk of injury for amateurs due to the nature of the sport, such as hitting myself with the bat or getting hit by a pitch? Or was it volleyball, which only used a ball, but where I had to constantly move my head and body, and sometimes strong balls like spikes came flying at me?
(Maehara) I think I'll go with volleyball for now.
(Maehara) It seems tough, but at least it's safer than softball.
(Asanagi) Both are generally fine as long as you practice properly.
(Asanagi) Well, you'll be fine if you practice from now until the real thing.
(Asanagi) I'll be participating in basketball, but I'll practice with you.
(Maehara) Huh? PE's supposed to be separated by gender…
(Asanagi) Yeah. That's right.
(Asanagi) So, let's practice together on our own.
(Maehara) Ah~ right.
(Asanagi) Let's make sure you master the basics so you don't get injured, okay?
(Maehara) Ah, yes.
Whether studying or exercising, Umi had a sporty, no-nonsense attitude when she was teaching, so the next two or three weeks until the class tournament were going to be physically demanding.
I guess this was the price I had to pay for slacking off until last year.
Anyway, I'd decided on an event, so I stood up to write my name on the blackboard.
"──Oh? Maehara-kun, have you decided?"
"Yes. I think I'll go with volleyball for now…"
"! Oh, that's a shame. I'm sorry to say this just as you were showing some motivation, but the spots for volunteers just filled up."
"Huh?"
Looking at the blackboard, I saw that all six spots for boys' volleyball were already filled with names.
As the teacher said earlier, the members this time were decided on a first-come, first-served basis, not by lottery…
I was enjoying my message exchange with Umi and ended up spending too much time on it, and before I knew it, everything was decided.
"I see… well, it can't be helped then."
"Sorry about that. Oh, I can put your name down as a substitute, what do you want to do?"
"…No, I'll just go with softball then."
There were fifteen boys in the class. It was a tight squeeze, and if I participated in both events, there was a good chance I'd be exhausted halfway through due to my own stamina issues. It was better to be realistic and just focus on one.
So, I wrote my name down for softball, which still had no one signed up, and returned to my seat.
(Maehara) Sorry, I'm going with softball after all.
(Maehara) It seems like there were a lot of volunteers, and it got decided early.
(Asanagi) Ahaha. I had a feeling that might happen with you, Maki.
(Asanagi) Well then, let's start with 1000 grounders right away.
(Maehara) Did you add a few extra zero's…?
(Asanagi) Hehe. Well, I don't have any baseball equipment either, so maybe we can ask Seki to help us out when he's free. If not, we can just go to the batting cages for batting practice.
(Asanagi) And we can go on a date at the same time, right?
(Maehara) …Well, I guess that's not a bad idea.
We quickly made plans for our future practice (and date?), and I put my phone back in my pocket.
I loved having fun conversations with Umi, but I had to be careful not to overdo it.
Now, the boys' teams were decided except for the substitutes for each event, so only the girls were left. I wondered what the situation was with them.
"H~i! There are still spots open for both volleyball and basketball, so come and write your name down once you've decided. If you have any preferences, like wanting to be on the same team as someone, just let Amami know for now~"
Unlike the boys, the girls seemed to be discussing how to divide it, with Amami-san taking the lead and gathering the different groups of girls around the teacher's desk by the blackboard. Yagisawa-sensei also seemed to be leaving it to the students' initiative, as long as they were handling it themselves.
It wasn't final, but Amami-san's name was currently under basketball. Her teammates were a few girls she'd talked to relatively often since the first year. Since basketball was divided into two teams, they were probably discussing who would be on which team.
However, Umi and Amami-san had chosen basketball without much hesitation.
Both of them were athletic, so they should be able to play a central role in either sport… I wondered if they had some experience.
I hadn't heard from either of them that they were in a club in middle school.
While I was thinking about that, the girls' discussion, led by Amami-san, proceeded smoothly.
"Let's put in the groups of three… and, okay! That settles volleyball. Now for basketball A and B, I guess we'll──"
Last year, being the leader was Umi's job, but so far, Amami-san seemed to be doing just fine. She was usually the one livening things up by Umi's side, but she's definitely been paying attention.
Her way of gathering everyone's opinions and then gradually compromising was reminiscent of Umi last year.
It wasn't my place to say this, but as expected of Amami-san.
As if to say she was up for anything, Amami-san also wrote her name down as a substitute for volleyball, and now all that was left was to divide the basketball teams into A and B.
…But there was one person sitting in her seat, not moving at all, staring out the window looking bored.
Everyone in the class was probably thinking, "Of course," but it was Arae-san.
"Um… Arae-san, you're the only one left, so if you don't have any particular preference, I'll just put your name down for basketball… is that, okay?"
"…Well, if you're not participating, then I'm out. That stuff's a pain."
"Wh-what? N-no, you can't do that! The class tournament is for everyone, and since we're doing it, let's do our best together. Okay? It'll be fun, I promise."
"No, if someone like me is there, it'll definitely kill the mood."
"That's, I don't think so──"
"You might not think so… but for example, hey, take a good look at the faces of the girls next to you, would ya?"
"…Huh?"
"Let me just say this," Arae-san said before pointing straight at Amami-san, and the girls on either side of her looked bewildered.
They seemed to be denying it, but Arae-san was convinced.
"You're putting on a straight face now like 'that's not true,' but I can see right through it. Well, I had a feeling it would turn out like this."
They weren't showing an outright rejection because Amami-san was there, but they probably wanted to avoid getting involved with her as much as possible.
Well, she's been doing whatever she wants since the first day of the new school year, so it was only natural that she'd be disliked by people who valued the class atmosphere and be talked about behind her back.
"That's why it's more constructive to add someone who's willing to play two events or add an extra substitute than to argue about where to put me. Even if you put me on the team, there's a high chance I'll be sick that day."
"Wha…"
Was she implying that she was going to skip anyway, so don't even count her in from the start? Even I was taken aback by that statement.
Skipping class without a reason was her own loss, but when it came to the class tournament, it would cause trouble for not just her teammates but the entire class. So if what she said just now wasn't a joke but serious, then that was just too malicious.
Even Amami-san was at a loss for words.
Selecting members, which was supposed to be decided quickly during the short homeroom after class, had already taken about thirty minutes, and the other classes that were also probably deciding their members had already gone home.
I glanced over at the hallway and saw Umi and Nitta-san waiting for us, peeking into the classroom from a distance.
"…Phew, I guess there's no other way."
Just as the frustration in the class was about to reach a dangerous level, the teacher stood up from her chair in the corner and wrote Arae-san's name under "Girls' Basketball A."
"…Sensei, I haven't decided to join that team yet."
"No, time's up. Also, if you're really sick and have to miss it, that's fine, but in that case, I'll have to contact your parents to confirm."
"…My parents are both busy with work from the morning. They're manual laborers."
"I'm sorry about that, but this is my job. As a homeroom teacher, I'm responsible for the children, so if something happens, I'll be worried too. This doesn't just apply to you, but to everyone in this class."
"…Then, do as you please."
Perhaps she was weak to the mention of her parents, as she leaned back in her chair powerlessly as if in surrender.
"Amami-san, I'm sorry, but can you proceed with this for now? I can't do anything about the independent practice, but I'll talk to the PE teacher and make sure she practices during class."
"Ah, yes. I'm fine with it… Everyone else is fine with it too, right?"
With no other way out of the stalemate, the other three members of Team A, who were now Amami-san's teammates, had no choice but to nod in agreement.
It was a rather unpleasant outcome, but for now, all we could do was practice hard for the real thing.
I'm not sure if it's true, but I heard that if you get good results in the class tournament, you get a significant boost not only in your health and physical education grade but also in your internal school report, so the matches are often quite heated every year (according to Umi and Amami-san; I personally don't remember anything).
I was worried about Amami-san, but first, I needed to get my own act together.
I was trying harder than last year, but I couldn't say I'd fully adjusted to this class yet.
As the long short homeroom ended and the classmates all headed home or to their clubs, Umi and Nitta-san entered the classroom with worried expressions, as if replacing them.
"Maki."
"Umi… Sorry, it took a while."
"It's not your fault, so don't worry about it. …More importantly, it looks like there's already a dark cloud hanging over everything."
"Class rep, come on, do something with that signature inability to read the room of yours. We can't get close to Yuu-chin like this."
"D-don't ask the impossible of me…"
Right now, there were only a few people left in our classroom, excluding people from other classes like Umi and Nitta-san.
Most of them were the members of the girls' basketball team that was just decided.
They were all from the same class since the first year, a so-called "clique."
And at the center of it all was Amami-san, who was now standing in front of Arae-san's desk.
"…What? I want to go home already."
"I'm sorry, Arae-san. But since we're on the same team, I was hoping we could talk a little if it's not a bother. …Is that not okay?"
"No. And you're in the way."
"M-mmph…"
Amami-san tried to talk to her with her usual cheerful demeanor, but she was quickly brushed off.
This seemed to have annoyed her, as her cheeks puffed out noticeably. At the same time, the girls standing behind Amami-san were clearly glaring at her.
"…So lame. You don't even have the guts to fight me head-on."
Muttering that, Arae-san slung her bag over her shoulder and slowly left the classroom.
(Maki, I'm going for a bit. You too, Nina.)
(I have to admit, I feel a little sorry for Yuu-chin.)
As soon as the person in question was gone, Umi and Nitta-san immediately went to comfort Amami-san, but right after that.
Amami-san ran after Arae-san.
"──Arae-san! Wait a minute!"
"Tch… What now?"
"I just have one thing I really want to say. I won't bother you anymore after that. So, please."
"…"
She didn't say yes or no to Amami-san's request, but she did stop, so she was probably willing to listen.
Having judged the situation the same way I did, Amami-san opened her mouth with her usual number one smile.
"Let's do our best together in the class tournament, Arae-san."
"…"
Arae-san left the hallway in a hurry, as if ignoring Amami-san's words, but at least Amami-san's feelings at that moment should have gotten through to her.
Amami-san was genuinely looking forward to playing on the same team as Arae-san, and she probably wanted to be friends with her too.
Amami-san was not the type of person to lie at times like this.
Perhaps she felt refreshed after saying what she wanted to say, because Amami-san returned to us with a cheerful expression after seeing Arae-san off.
"Sorry to keep you all waiting. …Ehehe, you saw something embarrassing, didn't you?"
"Yuu, are you really okay? I was listening from outside, and it was so bad that I got a little annoyed myself."
"Ahaha… I guess I'm really disliked. Hey Maki-kun, did I say something that offensive during my self-introduction?"
"No, I don't think Amami-san was the problem at all."
If something like that is enough to make someone hate you, then it's just a case of them not clicking. Amami-san must have been trying to lighten the mood in the class, even just a little, so for her to be called 'annoying' for it is just plain mean.
"Still, with Arae-cchi actin' like that, it's gonna be tough for the team to pull together. If it were just Yuu-chin, we could probably manage, dependin' on the combination. She seems to be pretty athletic, too."
"Oh, really? So, if Arae-san and I get along, we might actually have a shot at winning?"
"No, I don't think that's what Nitta-san meant…"
That's one way to look at it, but it's a bit too optimistic. On the other hand, a bad combination could mean we'd lose every game. We don't even know if their relationship will improve from here on out.
And then, there's the matter of…
"Yuu, just so you know, if our teams end up playin' against each other, I'm not gonna hold back at all. Our team is in the advanced class, but we're pretty fired up about this."
"…Yeah! Of course, I'm looking forward to it!"
"A fair and square match, then."
"Yep!"
Although I just said it depends on the combination, there's something else I'm personally paying more attention to.
Umi's team from Class 11 and Amami-san's team from Class 10. The two of them have always been allies in the same class, but this time, they might end up facing each other as opponents.
After all the participating members, including the substitutes, were decided, the homeroom teachers of each class held a lottery to decide the matchups for the event.
First, for softball, which I'm participating in, we're up against Class 4 and Class 8. Class 4 has a lot of people from sports clubs, including Nozomu. Incidentally, it seems he'll naturally be playing softball.
Some high schools have rules requiring students to participate in sports other than their club activities to avoid huge skill gaps, but our school doesn't. That means they'll be coming at us fully intending to win from the start.
For now, I plan to take the two league games seriously and do my best without getting discouraged, no matter how many points we're down. Well, I'm sure they'll go easy on us if the gap gets too big.
My situation aside, the problem is the girls' side.
Umi and Amami-san had promised to have a serious match if they faced each other, but…
• Girls' Basketball League 1
① Class 4 Team (Class 4 only has one team due to the number of girls) ② Class 7 B Team ③ Class 10 A Team ④ Class 11 A Team
And just like that, the matchup was set for the qualifying league. By the way, Nitta-san is also on the Class 7 B team (I heard from Umi later), but that's not really a big deal.
There was just one problem.
"──Hey Maki, just in case, I don't think it'll happen, but…"
"You don't have to preface it so carefully… Of course, I'll be with you as much as possible on weekends. I've already asked my manager to shift my part-time work to weekdays during this period."
"Hehe, yay! Now I can be with Maki all day on weekends… um, we can practice hard, right?"
"Well, yeah."
I might do some other things during our breaks, but I'll set that aside for now.
First, regarding practice. Although we're in different events, softball and basketball, Umi and I have decided to help each other out. It should be easier to stay motivated than practicing alone, and in my case, I tend to slack off when I'm by myself.
"By the way, where are you planning to practice basketball? The school gym is basically unavailable on holidays. Oh, maybe at Amami-san's place? I think she had a basketball hoop in her yard."
"No. It would be a bother to her parents if I went every week. Besides, Yuu and I are enemies until the class tournament is over. I don't plan on practicing with her."
Ever since the matchup was decided, Umi and Amami-san have been intensely conscious of each other. It's probably because they're both looking forward to their first real match, but that leaves the problem of where to practice.
Running is easy enough—we can just go to the park or the riverbank. But for shooting, passing, and team plays, we'll need a proper hoop.
"It's okay. I've thought about that too. They said 'that place' has plans too, so it seems like every week will be difficult, but they'll cooperate as much as possible."
"? Well, if you have a connection, I don't mind either way…"
From the sound of it, it seems there are a few other members besides me.
…For now, I'll just pray they aren't too strict.
"Then, all that's left is team practice. We'll do it in PE, but that's not enough, is it?"
"Ah, yeah. I still have to talk to the other members, but I think it'll be fine… I think…"
"…Umi?"
As soon as we started talking about it, Umi looked down awkwardly.
It's already been a few days since the new semester started, but so far, I haven't heard anything bad from Umi.
Of course, it's possible that she's hiding something… I wonder if there's something about her classmates that's hard for her to tell me.
"! Ah, it's okay, it's okay. There are no problems with my relationships. I think I told you a little while ago, but everyone is kind, and I'm getting along with them really well… But, um, this current situation was a bit unexpected for me too."
"O-oh…?"
It's rare for Umi to be this vague with me since we started dating.
From the way she's talking, I don't think she's being isolated or that there's anyone she particularly doesn't get along with. I trust Umi, so I don't intend to press her, but as her boyfriend, I'm still worried.
"Anyway, the four people I'm particularly close with──the other members of the team besides me, I plan to introduce them to you properly later, Maki… So, I'd be happy if you could wait a little longer…"
"…If you say so, Umi, then I guess it's fine."
The names of the other four people were written on the Class 11 member list that the team captain, Umi, was holding.
Nakamura Mio. Hayakawa Ryouko. Shichino Miku. Kaga Kaede.
I've mentally competed with students from the advanced class in test rankings, so a few of the names rang a bell. Maybe some of them are a bit eccentric.
Umi says she'll introduce me properly eventually.
It probably wouldn't hurt to casually observe from a distance. Probably.
And so, the next day after school. I was thinking of sneaking over to scout Class 11 at some point, but surprisingly, the chance came sooner than I expected.
"──Alright. Okay, that's all for English today. Oh, we're not doing homeroom today, so you can all just head home once this is over. There are no particular announcements, and I kept you too long last time."
As the chime signaling the end of the 6th period rang, most of my classmates, who had quickly finished packing up, left the classroom all at once. Our class has a lot of people who aren't in any clubs, we're not as serious about the class tournament is compared to other classes.
"See you later, Maki-kun! See you tomorrow!"
"Ah, yeah. Amami-san, are you starting your own practice today?"
"Yeah, team practice right away. I talked with the team, and we decided to give it our all since we're doing it."
"I see. It'll be tough, but do your best."
"Thanks… It would have been even better if Arae-san had joined us, though."
Amami-san glanced disappointedly toward an empty seat. Arae-san should have been quietly attending class until just a moment ago, but she must have left before anyone else.
"I have plans, so I'll be going now. Maki-kun, we're in the same class, so don't you dare cheer only for Umi, okay? Teamwork is important, you know?"
"Ugh."
If it were a one-on-one match, it would be a different story. But the class tournament is between classes, so on the day of the event, I plan to outwardly support Amami-san's team. It's a rare chance for the class to come together, so it'd be pretty dense of me to only cheer for my girlfriend and ignore my own class.
What actually happens will probably depend on the situation though…
There are exceptions to everything.
Of course, this is limited to things related to Umi.
"I-I know. Yeah, it's okay."
"Ehh, I wonder~?"
Since Amami-san gave me a warning early on, I have to make sure to show up and cheer for the matches against other classes as well.
I'm a little too embarrassed to take the lead and cheer loudly, so I'll probably just end up watching the game with everyone else.
After parting with Amami-san, I headed to the Class 11.
Umi and I have been going home together after school just like in our first year, but we usually meet up in front of the shoe lockers. This is surprisingly my first time coming to the front of the Class 11. Well, today is just for a quick glance at the class members, so I plan to leave as soon as I've achieved my goal.
"────"
Class 11 was still in the middle of homeroom. On the other side of the door, the students were quietly listening to their male teacher.
Umi's seat is──the third row from the front by the window. She seems to be listening to the teacher seriously, but maybe it's getting long, as she has a bored look on her face.
So far, she doesn't seem to have noticed me peeking.
"......Hmm."
I've secretly glanced at Umi from the side before, but looking at her from outside the classroom like this… I feel like a total creep.
"This feels kind of… stalker-ish…"
I have the excuse of being worried about whether Umi is getting along well in her new class, but doing this in secret feels like a breach of our promise.
Even though we're a couple, and a self-admittedly lovey-dovey one at that, if this escalates, I can't help but feel that it would be closer to 'possessiveness' than 'concern'.
I love Umi so much that I want to know everything about her if possible, but self-control is necessary.
"…Yeah. I should stop."
Umi said she would introduce me properly eventually, so until then, I should stop prying more than necessary.
And if I'm still curious, I should just be honest and tell her how I feel.
And so, I decided to content myself with just seeing Umi's bored face, turned on my heel, and was about to head to our usual meeting spot, but──.
"! Whoa!"
"Eh? Bfft."
I started to step away from class 11 but because I wasn't really looking where I was going, I didn't notice someone coming towards me and ended up bumping into them in a way that was almost a body check.
I really need to fix this habit of getting distracted when I'm thinking about something.
"S-sorry. I was just spacing out…"
"Ah, no, don't worry about it. I was just in a state of post-urination clarity after being freed from the urge I was holding back. Oops, was that a bit too indelicate in front of someone of the opposite sex? My apologies."
"…H-huh."
In front of me was a female student who I assumed was from Class 11. Black-rimmed glasses, and long hair tied back.
At first glance, she looked like a serious person, but her words and actions were a bit peculiar.
Also, I kind of knew it the moment we bumped into each other, but she's quite a bit taller than me.
Not as tall as Nozomu, but definitely more than ten centimeters taller than Umi or Amami-san, who are relatively tall for girls.
"Bumping into me here means you have some business with our class, right? You look like you're from another class."
"Yes. Um, I'm Maehara from the class next door, Class 10. I was, um, supposed to go home with my girlfriend… and was thinking of waiting here until she was done… Well, I'll be going now."
"Whoa there, hold on a second."
I tried to slip past her and leave, but her unexpectedly long arm shot out and grabbed my shoulder firmly.
I tried to gently shake her off, but her grip was so strong that she wouldn't budge.
"Um, what is it?"
"Ah, sorry. I feel like I've seen your face somewhere before… Um, where was it? You've got a pretty generic face, but you look like the type who'd fall for a pyramid scheme if someone pushed you a little──"
"I'd appreciate it if you'd at least say 'good-natured'… but I get what you mean."
Nitta-san said something similar to me jokingly the other day. Do I really look that easy to fool? I like to think I'm a pretty skeptical person, though.
From the way she talks, there's no doubt that the girl in front of me is from Class 11. And also that she's a woman with a strong personality.
"…By the way, could you please let me go soon?"
"Not yet. It's on the tip of my tongue, so just ten more seconds… Ah, that's right, I remember. You're Maki-kun, aren't you? Maehara Maki-kun."
"? Yes. I'm Maehara Maki, but."
"Bingo~ So that means you're Asanagi-chan's sweetheart. Hmm, I said something rude earlier, but you have a rather kind face."
"H-huh…"
I don't even know her name yet, but she seems to know a lot about me already.
Umi probably told her about me. We didn't intend to hide our relationship after we started dating, so I don't really care about that.
"Um, by the way, what's your name?"
"Hm? Oops, it's not fair for me to talk about others without introducing myself first, is it? My name is Nakamura Mio. As I'm sure you know, I'm the woman who serves as the top of Class 11."
"I don't really know if you're the top or not, but…"
I expected it the moment she mentioned Umi, but she was indeed one of the four on that member list.
Considering Umi's friendships so far, it's surprising that she's friends with someone who has such a unique sensibility, different from both Amami-san and Nitta-san.
I want to believe that the other three aren't as eccentric as Nakamura-san, but… maybe this is what the advanced class is like.
Umi usually acts like an honor student, but she's quite unique in front of me. And that's what I love about her.
"Maehara-kun, the old raccoon's… I mean, the homeroom teacher's talk will be over soon, so come to our class. There are quite a few people in our class who want to meet and talk to you."
"Is that… Hayakawa-san, Shichino-san, and…"
"Oh, so you know Ryouko and the others' names. Then this will be quick."
I thought I should be polite and leave quickly, but it doesn't look like she'll to let me go. Even if I did run, Nakamura-san would probably tell Umi about this, so it would be better to give up gracefully and offer myself up.
For now, to wait for the old raccoon's… no, Class 11's homeroom to end, I stood a little away from the teacher.
I haven't received any messages from Umi yet, so Nakamura-san is probably keeping this a secret for now.
I'm already a little nervous just being with Amami-san and Nitta-san, and now I'm about to meet four girls I've never met before… It's my own fault, but I'm getting nervous.
A few minutes later, the talk must have ended, as students started pouring out of the classroom all at once.
Of course, among them was Nakamura-san, who was slowly approaching me with a strange grin on her face.
"Maehara-kun, come in. It's a bit of a mess, though."
"You say that like it's your own home… Well, excuse me."
As Nakamura-san pushed me from behind and we entered the Class 11 classroom together, the three who were left around Umi's desk, and then a surprised Umi, all turned their faces towards us at once.
"Huh? Hey Nakamura, who's that boy?"
"He's not your boyfriend… is he? Nakamura, you don't seem that interested in that sort of thing."
"You seemed so happy when you went out saying 'I have someone I want to introduce,' so I thought something was up… Mio, could that person be…"
"Fufufu… Miku, Kaede, Ryouko. Without having to pester Asanagi-chan, the person in question has come to us of his own accord."
"""! No way…"""
As if they realized something, the three girls' eyes gradually widened.
…What is this development?
"Yes, it's exactly as you think. The idol of our Class 11──Asanagi-chan's beloved boyfriend-kun!"
"""We knew it!"""
At that moment, the three other than Umi, who had stood up at the same time, surrounded me all at once.
"Eh? Eh? What?"
"Heeh! So this is Maehara-kun. I see, so this is Asanagi-chan's type~! Ah, I'm Shichino Miku, nice to meet you. I'm in the light music club. How about it? Wanna try playing the guitar?"
"N-nice to meet you. I'll pass for now…"
"I'm Kaga Kaede. Maehara-kun, there's a doujin event during Golden Week, can I borrow your Asanagi-chan? I made a super cute cosplay outfit, and I want her to help out as a salesgirl."
"Even if you ask me…"
"Sorry about our Mio. But, Maehara-kun, you've been the talk of the town among us recently… Ah, I'm Hayakawa Ryouko from the kendo club. Nice to meet you."
"Is that so… Likewise, it seems I've caused quite a stir."
What on earth is happening? The moment they found out who I was, they started talking to me with incredible vigor.
It seems I was secretly a topic of conversation in some small circle I didn't know about… but how on earth did word about me get out?
"…Geez, Maki. I told you I'd introduce you properly."
"Haha… s-sorry. I just couldn't help but worry about you, Umi."
"You idiot, Maki. Well, it's my fault for being a bit vague about it too."
I'll have to ask Umi about that properly.
The second day after the new semester started.
In the morning, after parting ways with my girlfriend whom I commute with every day, I entered my classroom, Class 11.
Usually, my best friend would come and hug me with a cheerful greeting, but that best friend went into the classroom next door with my boyfriend.
…I just stated the facts plainly, but maybe that was poorly worded
It's only natural for them to enter the same classroom since they're in the same class, but for some reason, my chest feels inexplicably tight.
Maki and Yuu were talking so happily──idiots. You idiots.
"No, no, how can I be so jealous…"
I quietly sat down in my seat and let out a small sigh.
I know he only has eyes for me, and I know better than anyone that he's not the type to cheat. And that my best friend only sees him as 'just a friend'.
I had never been aware of it before, but I never knew I had such a possessive side to me.
…Is this also because I have come to know 'love'?
I felt it would be bad to think about it anymore, so for now, I decided to turn my attention to something else.
Yes, first, about Class 11, which I belong to.
Our class is a collection of honor students who wish to advance to difficult universities, but from a quick look, surprisingly few people seem to have poured all their resources into studying.
About two-thirds of the class is made up of girls, but even if I listen to my classmates' conversations, there's no talk of classes or studying; they're talking about fashion, or imitating our homeroom teacher to make others laugh, making it quite lively.
It seems that on the second day, the groups that act together are already fixed, but for now, I'm spending the morning time quietly by myself, not belonging to any group.
Among the thirty classmates, there's no one who was in the same class as me in the first year. I'm not in any clubs either, so in terms of relationships, I'm starting from a completely blank slate.
"...…"
I know I should just talk to someone casually, but when I try to, I unexpectedly hesitate and my body won't move. I start thinking that I, an outsider, would be a nuisance if I were to barge into a community that has already solidified to some extent.
That never happened when I enrolled last year──I thought, but then I realized there's one thing that's different between the me of the past and the me of now.
The existence of my best friend, with whom I've been in the same class ever since we became friends in elementary school.
With her natural brightness and looks that attract people regardless of gender, just by being in the classroom, people would naturally gather around Yuu.
She was attached to me, her best friend, so in that flow, people would talk to me too, and that would be the catalyst for us to become friends. Sanae and Manaka, who were with me before I met Yuu, are exceptions, but Nina, who I've been with since high school, also started out because of Yuu.
"…And now I'm alone, with no one talking to me."
Even if I thought I was the center of the class, without Yuu, this is all I amount to. Although it's been gradually improving since I started dating Maki, I still can't shake the habit of acting like an honor student at school, so some people might find me unapproachable.
Even though I look calm, with a textbook open and a composed expression, my head is full of thoughts about love, and in my desk, I'm busy exchanging messages with my boyfriend, ignoring the teacher's lecture.
"…I wonder what Maki is doing."
Unable to hold back, I took out my phone and sent a message to Maki as usual.
There might be things I should be doing before flirting with my boyfriend, but this is something I just can't seem to stop.
(Asanagi) Ma~ki
(Maehara) What?
(Asanagi) I figured you'd be lonely all by yourself.
(Asanagi) Ahh, what a good girlfriend I am, so considerate of my boyfriend.
(Maehara) Praising yourself?
(Maehara) Well, there's no doubt you're a good girlfriend, though.
(Asanagi) Eh? What? Maki, what did you just say? My ears are a little far, so I missed it.
(Maehara) Your ears have nothing to do with it. Reread the line before last.
(Asanagi) Send it again. If you don't want to, you can just say the same thing out loud right there.
(Maehara) The alternative is a much higher hurdle…
(Maehara) I get it. Okay, one more time.
(Asanagi) Exciting.
(Maehara) Don't get your hopes up so much…
(Maehara) Umi, you're a good girlfriend. A very good one.
(Asanagi) Hehe, thanks.
(Maehara) Okay, the teacher's coming soon, so I'm signing off for now.
(Asanagi) Hehe, you're getting embarrassed. Cute.
(Maehara) I-it's not like that.
"…Hehe."
Even though I'm trying my best to remain calm, I can't help but chuckle. It's so much fun that my face breaks into a smile on its own.
Yeah. Talking with Maki like this is really fun. At first, it was a measure we came up with so that our relationship wouldn't be discovered by our classmates, but thanks to that, he's never forgotten the fresh feeling of when we just started dating.
It's a shame that we're in different classrooms now and I can't secretly observe my lover's similar face, but on the other hand, imagining things has become a lot more fun.
What is Maki feeling right now, and what kind of face is he making?
I'd be so happy if he felt the same way as me.
When I closed the messaging app and returned to the lock screen, there was a picture of Maki looking away shyly, holding up a modest peace sign.
It was taken during Christmas, but I set it without telling Maki.
He's usually lazy and sloppy… but sometimes kind and cute, and on very rare occasions, he shows me a very cool side. He's my most precious boy.
As long as I have Maki, it doesn't matter if I become a bit of an outcast in class──I thought, but then I shook my head, thinking that's not good.
My boyfriend, who is shy and not good with large groups, is still trying his best to fit in with his new class, so I have to set an example and lead the way.
Just as Maki is trying to be a boyfriend worthy of me, I'm also trying to be a girlfriend that Maki can always respect──
"──Whoa!!"
"Hya!?"
Just as I regained my energy by looking at my favorite picture of my lover and was about to take action myself starting today… someone suddenly grabbed both my shoulders from behind with a loud voice.
However, I was quite surprised. I thought I had been paying close attention to my surroundings while enjoying my conversation with Maki.
Did they approach me because they noticed I was stifling my laughter? In any case, whoever managed to sneak up on me without a sound is quite the character.
Student number 11, Nakamura Mio-san. I only knew her by name, but she was the person who kept the 1st place in the grade throughout our first year. And by a landslide.
"…Um, ah yes, Nakamura-san, was it? Is something wrong?"
"Hm? No, you were doing something furtive in your desk, so I got a little curious. What? Growing some illegal herbs in your desk? If your business is about to take off, let me get a piece of that."
"Geez, there's no way I could do that… I was just secretly playing a game."
"Heeh, so recent smartphone games have plain-looking real-life boys in them too. I'm not very knowledgeable in that area, so I'm surprised."
"...…"
Nakamura-san, her eyes shining behind her black-rimmed glasses, said so and grinned.
This punk, I was about to say, but I hastily held my tongue.
"…W-were you watching?"
"Ahaha, my bad. You weren't being honest, so I was a little mean. I'm a mischievous girl, you see."
"You say that yourself?"
"I do. Otherwise, people wouldn't think 'Oh, Nakamura-san is actually a mischievous girl, how cute'."
"I think you're having the opposite effect…"
I thought she might be a little strange from her self-introduction, but I never thought she was actually strange, not just trying to be funny.
A different type from Yuu, Nina, and Maki. Since it's an advanced class, I wasn't expecting to have such an interesting encounter.
"So, who's the boy on your lock screen? Is he your boyfriend, Asanagi-san?"
"That's right. If you have something you want to ask, since we're at it, shall I tell you? Of course, to the three behind you too, Nakamura-san."
"What, you seem flustered, but you're well aware of your surroundings."
"Of course. I haven't been the class representative for so long for nothing."
"Nice. Well then, including the three behind me, I look forward to working with you, Asanagi-chan."
"You get friendly so quickly… Well, I don't mind."
I see. I was a little anxious about the new class, but this might turn out to be interesting in its own way.
It deviated a little from what I had imagined, but well, let's just say all's well that ends well.
…Maki, thank you.
While secretly thanking my lover who is not in this class right now, I took my first step in the new class.
"──And so, that's how I became friends with everyone."
"Heeh, so that's what happened."
"Yeah. Ah, just so you know, I'm having a lot of fun now. Nakamura-san, Kaede-chan, Miku-chan, Ryouko-san, everyone is so kind."
"Hey Asanagi-chan, we're friends, so why am I still 'Nakamura-san'? Call me by my first name or with '-chan' like the other three. How about 'Mio-mio'?"
"That nickname's a new one on me… Anyway, you just seem like a 'Nakamura-san' to me."
"That's right, Nakamura."
"Give it up, Nakamura."
"Mio, I really don't think 'Mio-mio' is a good idea."
"You think so… Then, at least Maehara-kun──"
"No, I would definitely hate that…"
"Muu… Kaede, edit out the part where I just bombed with your amazing skills."
"Hey, I'm not recording or anything right now, okay?"
Although they are joking around in a friendly atmosphere with Umi, it was surprising to hear that she was on the verge of being an outcast in the class at first.
From what I hear, it seems I was the one who connected Nakamura-san and the other three with Umi.
…Also, it was surprising that Umi has me as her lock screen.
Hearing that makes me so embarrassed my face feels like it's on fire, but at the same time, I'm honestly happy that Umi thinks of me that much.
I guess we really are a lovey-dovey couple.
"So, Asanagi-chan. Who confessed first between you and Maehara-kun? If you have any killer lines from that time, I'd love to hear them."
"Um… w-what was it again. I was so nervous, I don't really remember… I think."
"Oh? Hey, hey Asanagi-cha~n. I don't think it's good to play dumb now, is it~? Your face is bright red, so I bet those lines are repeating in your head right now, aren't they? Ah, I should record it so I can play it back later."
"Hey. Miku, Kaede, even if you're interested in love stories, don't trouble Asanagi-san. It's not my place to say since I have no experience, but I don't think that's the kind of thing you go around telling people… By the way, um, have you two kissed or anything…"
"Kaede-chan and Miku-chan are bad enough, but Ryouko-san is curious too?"
Although she's trying her best to make a comeback as usual, the other three, like Nakamura-san before, have strong personalities, and even Umi is overwhelmed by their momentum.
Umi has a cute side where she gets flustered as soon as you talk about romance, but seeing her act differently from when she's with Amami-san or Nitta-san is a fresh sight for me too.
"How about it, Maehara-kun? This is our class's idol. Isn't she cute?"
"Well, I'm her boyfriend, so I already knew that… But I never expected Umi to have a position like a beloved character."
"That was unexpected for me too. At the first self-introduction, she had this unapproachable vibe of a perfect, beautiful honor student. I figured the person she was secretly texting was some super-hot boyfriend, and I was just thinking, 'Damn, I'm so jealous, share some of that happiness!'"
"You were that jealous, huh…"
But Umi is not that kind of girl; she's a normal girl just like everyone else.
There's nothing special about her. She eats the same things as everyone else, takes lazy naps, plays games, and has a normal love life.
Of course, anyone would find that cute.
"So, Maehara-kun, you don't have to worry. Asanagi-chan is a proper member of the class, so rest assured. Oh, and of course, we'll always be keeping an eye out to make sure no boys from the class make any unnecessary moves on her. Right, everyone?"
"Yeah. I'll smash the head of any guy who bothers our taken Asanagi-chan with my brilliant bass skills."
"Miku, I think you're using 'skills' in the wrong way there. Well, that's a joke, but I'll do my part as a wall. I've already called dibs on Asanagi-chan's first cosplay."
"Then I guess I'll keep an eye out for traitors from within. Kaede, I don't intend to criticize your hobbies, but you should enjoy those things by yourself."
"I-I know, ane-go… I get it, so please put the practice shinai you're holding behind your back into your locker, please."
I think the four of them bombarding her with questions is already a sufficient check on the boys, but they all seem to be having fun, including Umi, so I'll just leave them be.
It feels like their friendship was already complete before they even got to know each other. Anyway, these five, including Umi, are Class 11's A team that will be facing Amami-san's team in this class tournament.
From what I've heard, the only one in a sports club among the four is Hayakawa-san from the kendo club, so I expect the match itself to be close. But in terms of the teamwork of all five members, the advantage currently goes to Umi's team.
Umi and Amami-san were separated for the first time in their second year of high school, but the results were starkly contrasting.