Having witnessed the electric atmosphere of Class 11's team, I was all the more curious about their upcoming match. But before that, I had my own immediate challenge to tackle.
After our recent discussion, I'd decided to participate in the class softball game, but I hadn't made any headway with practice. Even if I wanted to practice on my own, the field was always occupied by the baseball and soccer clubs. And while I could borrow the equipment, practicing in the park was out of the question due to concerns about disturbing the neighbors.
So, there wasn't much I could do outside of PE.
That's why, during my free time at lunch, I was playing catch with Nozomu.
"——Alright, Maki, I'll start by throwing slowly, okay? Keep your eyes on the ball and try to keep your glove right in front of your face."
"Whoa… like this?"
"Yeah, that's it. Lookin' good. Not bad for a beginner, huh?"
"Heh, you flatter me."
Maybe it was because Nozomu was a good teacher, but I was managing to catch the balls he threw from a respectable distance.
Even though he said he was throwing slowly, Nozomu's pitches had some real weight to them, and my hand tingled every time I caught one. Still, the feeling of the ball landing in the glove with a satisfying thwack wasn't half bad.
"By the way, what position are you playing, Nozomu? It's softball, so it'll be underhand, but are you still gonna pitch?"
"Yep. It's been a while since I played softball, so I need to practice and get the feel for it again. You playing outfield, Maki?"
"Yeah. I'm not really a pitcher or catcher, handling grounders in the infield is tricky, and there seems to be a lot to learn with coordinated plays. So it's the process of elimination for now."
It wasn't set in stone yet, but I'd probably be in right field. Nozomu was the baseball club's ace, but the rest of our classmates were all amateurs. The plan was to put the more athletic players in left field, since that's where right-handed batters tend to hit the ball.
"So, what about batting practice? I can help you out with a tee since it doesn't take up much space… but I guess that means hittin' up the batting cages at the arcade, right?"
"Yeah. It costs a bit, but it's perfect for getting my eyes used to fastballs. Umi said we should go practice right after school today."
"Maki on an after-school arcade date… Look at you, living a normal teenage life."
"It's for practice. Well, I doubt we'll be swinging a bat the whole time, so we'll probably mess around a bit."
The purpose was strictly practice, but Umi had been looking so happy all day that I had a feeling I'd be going along with a lot of her plans.
Playing arcade and prize games for the first time in a while, and also… right, taking a picture together in a photo booth or something. She was constantly looking up the latest photo booth machines on her phone, so she'd probably drag me there even if I resisted.
The one-two punch of lunch and a light workout hit me with a wave of drowsiness more intense than usual. After somehow surviving my afternoon classes, I headed to the familiar game center with Umi, just as we'd planned.
The slightly dim interior, the cacophony of sounds erupting from all directions.
It felt nostalgic.
"Maki, hey, over here! We have plans for later, so let's get practice out of the way first."
"The main purpose is practice… Hey, don't run off ahead."
This was actually the first time I'd gone into town with Umi like this on a weekday. When we hung out on weekdays, it was almost always at my place. So, on this rare after-school date, Umi sounded especially cheerful and excited.
"By the way, are you sure it was okay not to invite Amami-san? I'm happier with just the two of us, but I'm sure she's been holding back from hanging out with you."
"I did invite her, but Yuu said she had plans with someone else. Probably basketball practice, don't you think? Her partners are busy, so it seems they can only meet up on weekdays."
"Huh. Amami-san is really working hard."
She was probably relying on an acquaintance from middle school for coaching. The girls' school that Umi and Amami-san attended put a special emphasis on sports, so it wouldn't be surprising if she had friends on the basketball team.
I didn't hear much about Umi's middle school days from her, but maybe it was someone she knew too.
Lost in thought, I held hands with Umi and headed to the floor with the batting cages. The last time I came here was about six months ago——back when Umi and I were still just 'friends.' It had been a while.
Thinking back, I felt like our relationship had started to deepen from that moment on.
"It's been a while, so let's start with around 100 km/h to get our bearings. Try hitting for three hundred yen's worth, and once you're used to that, we'll move up to 120 km/h."
[Note: In Japanese batting cages, players typically pay per round rather than per pitch. A single round costs about 300 yen and usually consists of 20 balls.]
"Y-Yessir. I'm in your hands, coach."
"Mhm. I'll be watching you closely until you get it right, so be prepared… Hehe, I'm rooting for you, Maki. Do your best."
"Yeah. Well, I'll give it a shot."
Wanting to impress my girlfriend, who was watching from outside the cage, I put on the safety helmet and stepped into the batter's box.
It had been a while since I'd held a metal bat, but my body must have remembered the feel of it. The grip fit comfortably in my hands, and the bat itself felt light. I'd gotten a bit stronger compared to my previously frail self, so I could probably swing with some force without any issues.
"Maki, keep your eyes on the ball until it makes contact. You don't have to try to hit it forward; if your form is good, you'll get a solid hit."
"…Mhm."
Nodding at Umi's now-nostalgic advice, I swung the bat. Nozomu had taught me the form, so all that was left was to put it into practice.
——Clink.
"Oh."
"Ah, you hit it."
Perhaps it was the result of my basic practice. Though it was a weak grounder, the ball flew forward with enough momentum to reach the net on the machine's side.
"Nice! Just like that. Try to hit the bottom of the ball just a little bit more."
"Mhm."
I nodded towards Umi, whose face lit up as she cheered, and continued to swing at the balls.
I guess the slow but steady effort I'd been putting in on my own wasn't for nothing. Though I occasionally swung and missed or just nicked the ball, when I swung with a good feel, a decent hit pierced the net above the machine.
——Clang, Clink.
"…This is surprisingly fun."
As I watched the ball fly away with a satisfying crack of the bat, I could feel my spirits lifting.
I used to see salarymen, probably on their way home from work, swinging bats and think, 'What's so fun about that?' but… it might actually be a good way to relieve stress every now and then.
And, I felt like I'd managed to show a slightly better side of myself to Umi.
Though I'd only hit slow pitches so far.
"Maki, good work. Here, fist bump."
"Thanks. It's all thanks to your advice, Umi."
"You're welcome. Oh, you're sweating. I'll wipe it for you, so come closer."
"No, I have a handkerchief… I can do it myself."
"I. Want. To. Do. It."
"…Yes. Then, if you please."
"Very good."
Umi must have been happy to see my progress with her own eyes, because she was being even more doting than usual.
Since it was a weekday, it wasn't very crowded, but if we got too lovey-dovey, the stares and whispers of those around us would start to bother me.
Right now… it seemed like no one was around, so I was relieved.
"Maki, what do you want to do? You look a little tired. Should we take a break?"
"No, I'm feeling pretty good right now, so I want to try the next one while I'm in the groove. I mean, the next one is the real deal."
"Hmm. Well, even though it's softball, it'd still look like the ball is moving pretty fast. In that case, let's go for 120 km/h with this momentum."
And so, we moved over to the corner with the faster pitches. Here, you could practice with fastballs up to 120-140 km/h and even breaking balls. It seemed to be used mainly by people who were already familiar with baseball.
It was full, so we had to get in line and wait.
"Just watching from the outside, this is still as fast as ever… Umi, how do you even hit a 120 km/h pitch?"
"Hmm. Basically, it's like I said before: you have to watch the ball carefully. But I guess it comes down to the timing of your swing, right? You sort of predict the opponent's pitching form and the speed they're throwing at. You can't just swing faster because the ball is fast."
"I see, timing."
"Yep. It's all about timing. Not just in batting, but in everything, you know?"
As she said that, Umi pressed her body against mine. I'd just been acting on my own feelings, but the reason Umi and I had gotten this close was probably because the timing had been perfect.
…I didn't know if we'd become a lovey-dovey couple because it fit too perfectly.
And so, I'd strayed a bit off-topic, but it was time to get back to it.
I decided to use someone else's swing as a reference and turned my eyes to the cage that was making a particularly loud crack. It was one cage over from where we were lined up. While others were occasionally missing, this person was hitting ball after ball near the 'home run' board.
"Ei~ Ya~! To~!"
Her shouts and form were a bit unique, but her fundamentals were solid, and her swing was powerful.
As I was admiring her, thinking that people with talent are just different, I realized it was a very familiar back.
I hadn't noticed at first because of the safety net and helmet, but there was no mistaking the long, golden hair that peeked out from behind the helmet and swayed with each swing.
"Phew. Hah~ I tried it on a whim, but that was a lot of fun… Whoops."
"! Yuu!"
"Amami-san?"
"Hey Umi, and you too, Maki-kun. Hehe, due to certain circumstances, I ended up coming here after all."
The person in front of us finished at that exact moment, but Umi and I decided to sort out the situation first. We gave our turn to the person behind us and went over to Amami-san, who was smiling awkwardly.
"Yuu, what are you doing here? What about basketball practice?"
"Yeah, that was the plan, but the location changed. You know this game center has a basketball court and a futsal court on the floor above, right? So we decided to practice there and have a little fun at the same time."
"So, are those two with you?"
"Yep. It seems they've just stepped out for a moment… Speak of the devil. Hey, Sanae-chan, Manaka-chan."
"…Nitori-san and Houjou-san?"
When I turned my head in the direction Amami-san was waving, I saw two girls in the distinctive white blazers of Tachibana Girls' Academy.
They looked surprised to see Umi and me, but there was no trace of their previous hesitation; they were smiling.
"No way, Yuu-chan, did you keep it a secret that they were coming here too? If I'd known, I would have come a little more mentally prepared."
"Sanae, what do you mean by that?"
"Come on, I'm just kidding. Umi-chan, don't make that face."
"Maehara-san, hey there~ Long time no see~"
"L-Long time no see, Houjou-san."
It had been two or three weeks since we last saw each other at Umi's birthday party. Both of them had shorter hair now, but I still recognized them right away. Nitori-san, with her distinct, round eyes, and Houjou-san, whose large, droopy eyes matched her gentle way of speaking.
I wondered why the two of them were with Amami-san… but one look at the large sports bags they were carrying made it obvious.
"Could it be that Amami-san's practice partners are Nitori-san and Houjou-san?"
"Yes, that's right. Manaka and I have been on the basketball team since middle school, so she asked if we could coach her when we have time. And Umi-chan too, of course."
"…Ah, I see."
So the 'connections' Umi was talking about were Nitori-san and her friends.
The Tachibana Girls' basketball team was known as a local powerhouse, so they were indeed the perfect people to ask for guidance.
"Hey, since we're all here, let's practice together today. It'll save us coaches some trouble. Oh, but would that ruin your special date? Right, Manaka?"
"Yeah. I can feel the silent pressure from Umi-chan~"
"I-It's not like that… Besides, the main reason why we're here is to practice."
Saying something similar to what I'd said a little while ago, Umi secretly squeezed my hand tightly.
She couldn't turn down the offer from the two girls who were taking time out of their busy schedules at a powerhouse school to practice with them, but of course, she also wanted to spend time alone with me… That's probably what was going through her mind.
I was on Umi's side, no matter what, so I could have refused the offer and continued with my own practice, but…
"Yeah, okay. If you two say so, I might as well practice with you all. It's different from what I planned, but it means I'll get more time with you two coaching me."
"Umi, are you sure?"
"Well, yeah. Besides, I don't want to be the only one getting shown up by you, Maki. I want to show you that I'm working hard too."
"Yay! Then it's decided!"
As Umi agreed, Amami-san clapped her hands loudly, a happy expression on her face.
Even though they were rivals in the class tournament and practiced separately, Amami-san must have a stronger desire to do things with everyone.
"Honestly, you're hopeless."
Though Umi said this with an exasperated tone, her gaze towards Amami-san was gentle, and her expression was calm.
She actually wanted this too, didn't she… Honestly, she wasn't very honest with herself.
Now that the four old friends were together, we cut my practice short and took the escalator to the next floor.
This area didn't have arcade machines like prize games or photo booths; it was a space purely for physical activity. There were billiard tables, ping-pong tables, and the machines you often see in darts matches, but the main attractions, as mentioned earlier, were the basketball and futsal courts.
After paying the fee for five people, we entered the net-enclosed court. It was a half-court, but it was more than spacious enough for the five of us. Balls and shoes were free to use, and the fees were reasonable, making it student-friendly.
"After stretching and warming up, let's do some shooting practice today. When that's done, we'll split into our respective pairs and play a two-on-two mini-game."
"? Respective pairs, you mean Nitori-san and Houjou-san are each watching one person?"
"Basically, yes. I, Nitori, will be in charge of Yuu-chan, and Manaka will be in charge of Umi-chan. It's more efficient that way."
"Sanae and I are on the same level, so there's not much of a difference~"
And so, the practice began with them immediately splitting into their respective pairs.
As for me, I was helping out the two groups by retrieving balls and passing.
"Umi-chan and Yuu-chan, first, take turns shooting. Don't worry about your form for now."
At the sound of the whistle that Nitori-san had produced from somewhere, Umi and Amami-san's practice began.
First, their shooting forms were quite different.
Umi shoots with both hands holding the ball firmly, a common sight in girls' basketball.
On the other hand, Amami-san's form is the type where her left hand is just for support.
There's no right or wrong here. As long as the ball goes in, it's fine to choose the easier way.
"Umi-chan, you're putting too much power into your arms~ Relax your shoulders and focus on shooting with your lower body~"
"Y-Yeah. Sorry, Manaka."
"Yuu-chan, I get how you feel, but you're imitating pro players too much. It's fine for now since your shots are going in, but it'll be a pain later if you develop a weird habit."
"R-Roger that, Coach Sanae."
Watching from a little distance, I think they're having a really solid practice. The two coaches, who had been hesitant towards Amami-san and Umi until just before, were now rigorously instructing their respective students.
After about ten minutes of one-on-one, hands-on instruction——whether it was because Umi and Amami-san already had some experience, their shooting posture gradually became more beautiful, and with that, their shooting success rate steadily increased.
"Alright, okay. You two, don't forget that feeling. Now that we've taught you a fair bit, let's have a shooting contest between the two of you."
""…""
The moment Nitori-san said the word 'contest,' I felt a brief, tense atmosphere pass between Umi and Amami-san.
…The real thing is still a little while away, but are they already too conscious of each other?
"You'll shoot alternately from the free-throw line, and if you miss, you do ten push-ups on the spot. Try ten shots each for now, and the one with fewer goals has to do an additional fifty push-ups… but hey, Sanae~ are we really doing this~? Isn't it a bit harsh for these two?"
"You think so? We always do more than double this, so it shouldn't be a problem for them, right? Yuu-chan, Umi-chan, what do you think? You in?"
""We're in.""
They're both surprisingly competitive best friends, so if you say it like that, this is what's bound to happen.
Nitori-san, who said it in a deliberately provocative way, and Houjou-san, who pretended to be worried about them but was actually also egging them on, have certainly known them for a long time.
It would probably be tactless for me to interfere here, so I'll just quietly watch how things unfold.
"Ehehe."
"Fufu."
They're smiling but… somehow, it's a little scary.
A coin toss decided that Amami-san would go first in the shooting contest.
"Alright, I'll sink the first one and put some pressure on Umi~"
"Trying to psych me out? I don't need that, so just shoot already. We don't have that much time on the court."
"Okaay~ …Well then, here I go."
Taking a small, deep breath and fixing a serious gaze on the basketball hoop, Amami-san released her shot.
Her posture was straight, a beautiful form that you wouldn't expect from an amateur.
The softly released ball passed right through the middle of the hoop without hitting the rim, making a satisfying swish sound.
"Yuu-chan, nice shot."
"Nice sho~t."
"Ehehe, thanks~ Alright, it's your turn, Umi."
"I know."
Umi, who took the ball from Amami-san, glanced over at me.
She doesn't seem nervous, but her expression looks a little stiff, so maybe I should say something to her.
"Um… Umi, good luck."
"Yeah, thanks. …So, why are the three of you smirking at us like that?"
"""No reason~"""
"Geez…"
While blushing at the lukewarm gazes from the other three, she shot the ball with the form she had just been taught… I thought it went in, but it unfortunately bounced off the inside of the rim and missed.
"Ah."
"Umi-chan missed. Well then, as promised, ten push-ups."
"Muu… I thought that was close."
Umi starts doing push-ups on the spot with a frustrated expression.
There are still nine shots left, but seeing Amami-san's perfect first shot, she probably can't afford any more misses. If she keeps missing and has to keep doing more push-ups, the fatigue in her arms will likely affect her accuracy.
Umi didn't have a good start, but after that, she got back into her usual rhythm and started making shots smoothly.
As she took more shots, she became more confident, so all that was left was to wait for Amami-san to make a mistake… but as for her, she was still in top form.
"——Yes! That's seven in a row!"
"Whoa~ as expected of Yuu-chan. A bundle of talent as always."
"A monster~"
"Come on, you two are exaggerating. I'm just having a good day today."
Amami-san says so modestly, but just looking at her shooting, I would believe it if someone told me she was an experienced player.
Her drawing during last year's cultural festival was also surprising, but I think she's a person who can really do anything. She'd be perfect if she were good at her studies, but she's so hopeless at it that it's almost a joke, which might be part of her charm that attracts people.
However, my gaze is still drawn to the girl who works hard at everything.
"Umi, looking good. Make all the rest of your shots and put some pressure on Amami-san."
"Yeah. That Yuu is on a hot streak now, but she might lose her balance over something small. Hey Sanae, what happens if we're tied?"
"You look like you want to settle this once and for all. But unfortunately, it's a draw in that case. We have don't have much time, and it doesn't look like we can get an extension."
"The real match will have to wait for the real thing~ Oh, if you draw, both of you do thirty push-ups~"
"…Isn't that kind of unreasonable?"
Since neither won nor lost, does that mean they have to share the punishment? I'm extremely doubtful as to why they had to do 10 more in total.
The eighth and ninth shots both went in without any trouble, and the match came down to the last shot.
The one-goal difference between Amami-san and Umi remains unchanged.
"Alright, I'm gonna make all of them. I'll push fifty push-ups onto Umi!"
"Huh? We're best friends, so of course you'll do thirty with me, right? Are you planning on leaving me all alone?"
"Th-That kind of psych-out… besides, you have Maki-kun, Umi, so it's fine. I'm sure he'll do not just thirty, but fifty or even a hundred with you, right? Hey Maki-kun, you're her boyfriend, so that's right, isn't it?"
"Could you seriously stop dragging me into this…?"
I was supposed to be just an attendant for practice, but somehow the conversation is proceeding as if I'm competing with them.
I'm still tired from overdoing it with the batting earlier… but well, I don't intend to leave Umi alone, so I'll go along with it.
Amami-san showed a slight sign of being flustered by Umi's light jab… now, what will happen?
"——Hmph."
The ball leaves Amami-san's hands and slowly makes its way towards the goal.
'Yes,' I thought I saw Amami-san's lips move slightly, so she must have a good feeling about it.
If this goes in, Amami-san wins without waiting for Umi's tenth shot——or so it should have been.
——Thwack.
""""——Huh?""""
Something completely unexpected happened, and the four of us were, almost simultaneously, taken aback.
The trajectory of Amami-san's shot, which looked like it was going to go in, was forcibly deflected by a ball that came flying from a different direction for some reason.
Of course, the shot missed, and the two balls bounced high on the court, rolling towards the net as they lost momentum.
"Hey, who was that? We're still practicing, how dare you interfere…"
The first to react was Nitori-san. My focus was on the ball, so my understanding was a bit delayed, but it seems someone other than us suddenly threw a ball at us.
When I looked at the entrance, standing there was a female student wearing our high school's uniform.
"…Ah, my bad. I was waiting in line until a moment ago, but you guys were doing something so lame that it just slipped out."
The one who said that without any remorse was a student with tanned skin who stood out among a group of several girls.
And for Amami-san and me, she was a person with whom we've had a particularly deep grudge recently——Arae Nagisa, that very person.
"Arae-san? Um, could it be that you're also here for independent practice?"
"Independent practice? No way. A friend of mine wanted to get some exercise, so I just came along. What? Is there a rule that says I can't go to the arcade after school?"
As always, the hostility she directs at Amami-san upon finding her is immense.
The people around her, who seem to be her friends, appear to be gently trying to stop her, but it seems no one in the group can strongly reprimand their leader.
"It's not that far… and before that, even if I was here, it's not okay to interfere with practice, you know? It's one thing if it was just me, but there are kids from other schools here today."
"Yuu-chan is right. I don't know who you are, but this is a public space, so we'd appreciate it if you'd observe basic manners."
"Huh? Ah, that uniform and bag… Tachibana Girls', huh? Still acting like a good little girl, I see."
Does she not care who it is as long as they're close to Amami-san? Arae-san glares at Nitori-san, who agreed with her, in the same way.
"You two, don't tell me you're on the girls' basketball team? That's tough. It must be hard practicing at a powerhouse school, and now you have to watch over these amateurs. If it's a bother, you should just tell them so."
"Tsk…"
The moment Arae-san said that, one of Umi's eyelids twitched.
I rarely see it, but it's a habit Umi has when she's angry.
"Amateurs… Umi-chan and Yuu-chan are very good. They're not amateurs. Please take that back."
"That's right~ Besides, it's none of your business~"
Nitori-san and Houjou-san are retorting calmly, but when their friends are spoken of so badly, their tone naturally becomes sharper.
And it was the same for me.
I don't want to cause trouble in a place like this, but… I have to say this.
"…Arae-san, can I have a word?"
"Huh? Who the hell are you, Amami's man? If you're just trying to look good, then back off."
Her words are grating, but getting angry at every little thing like this will only play into her hands.
I have to calm my flaring temper and strongly convey that she is in the wrong.
"No. I'm Maehara from the same class. More importantly, Arae-san, you are clearly in the wrong this time. You said you were waiting in line, but we still have a little time left, and you have no right to be annoyed about that. Of course, whether we're amateurs or not has absolutely nothing to do with you either."
"…"
Arae-san's sharp gaze pierces me, but I can't falter now.
This person is speaking ill not only of Amami-san, but also of her friends Nitori-san and Houjou-san, and by extension, Umi.
As a friend, as a lover, I can't overlook that.
"In any case, please apologize for what you just did. I don't know what you have against Amami-san, but at the very least, you were the one who interfered."
"…It's not like I only hate her."
"Huh?"
"Ah~ yeah, yeah. Sorry for interrupting. It was my fault, I won't do it again… There, is that good enough?"
"Th-That kind of dismissive tone…"
Her words were just a simple string of apologies with no feeling behind them, and even I was about to be dumbfounded.
However, I don't think she would reflect on her actions even if I pointed it out now.
It feels pointless to continue arguing in this state, but it's also unacceptable for us to back down here, as it would feel like we're forgiving her.
"——Maki-kun, it's fine now. Thank you, for getting angry for us."
"Amami-san, are you sure?"
"Yeah. I don't think we'll get anywhere if we fight… besides, our time on the court is already up. It'll be a nuisance to the staff."
If this were a school classroom, it would be a different story, but this is a space used by people from other schools and other general customers.
If we got heated here and it turned into a fight… it wouldn't be good for Nitori-san and Houjou-san, who are helping us out of goodwill.
Amami-san must want to avoid that at all costs.
…In that case, as a compromise.
"Um, Arae-san. It's time, so we're leaving, but we're not just going to let this go."
In other words, we're carrying this over to the next day.
I don't know if Arae-san, who refuses to budge from her stubborn attitude, will ever truly apologize to us… but if we don't at least do this much, we won't be satisfied.
"Sorry, I just decided on that… but is that okay with everyone?"
"Yeah. I'm totally fine with it."
"If Yuu-chan is okay with it, then so am I."
"Me too~"
Amami-san, Nitori-san, and Houjou-san are okay with it.
"…"
"Um, Umi?"
"…Mm."
I couldn't shake the feeling that something was a little off with Umi, but for now, I had everyone's approval. It was time to call it a day. Besides, I needed to get away from here and calm my nerves.
"Well then, we'll be going."
"Th-then, see you later," Amami-san said. "Arae-san, see you tomorrow at school, okay?"
"…Just get out of here already."
After a quick glance at Arae-san, who had completely turned her back on us, we started to clean up the equipment. Until now, I'd been an outsider, but now I was officially Arae-san's enemy.
Did I do something unnecessary again? I'm as meddlesome as ever, but right now, this was all I could think of. I wonder if things would have worked out better if I were a bit more skilled at handling situations. Well, it's no use thinking about it now.
"──Alright, now that the nuisances are gone, let's pull ourselves together and mess around a bit."
With Arae-san's voice, now softened as she spoke to her friends, at our backs, the five of us were about to head off the court when—
"…Lame."
Umi's voice was sharp and clear, her words aimed squarely at Arae-san. The other four of us, myself included, froze. Umi had been watching from a step back until now, but her quiet disapproval had finally boiled over. Her voice had been loud enough for everyone to hear, and sure enough, Arae-san's back twitched in reaction.
"…Huh? Did you just say something to me?"
"I did. What about it?"
"…Hmph. I thought you were all just a bunch of cowards, but it looks like there's one with some fight in them."
Tossing the ball she was holding to a nearby friend, Arae-san approached us with a sharp gaze.
"Umi… I get how you feel, but just hold back for now."
"It's fine. It's not like I'm trying to start a fight or anything. I'm not a child like her."
"Even if you aren't, it looks like things are getting pretty bad on her end…"
The people on Arae-san's side seemed like they didn't want things to escalate either, and they were trying to calm her down somehow. It was obvious that these two didn't get along, so I had been trying my best to keep them from clashing… but it seems Umi couldn't hold back at the very end either.
"Arae Nagisa, was it? My best friend might be too soft, but I will never accept someone like you. Acting like a child even though you're in high school, causing trouble for my precious friends, and for your acquaintances over there, for everyone. Hey, don't you feel even a little bit ashamed of yourself?"
"Are you still lecturing me at this point? And who the hell are you anyway? You're wearing our uniform, though."
"Year 2, Class 11, Asanagi Umi. I've been best friends with Yuu since elementary school."
"…Another goody-two-shoes, huh? You're all so damn annoying."
Since she was being held back, it didn't seem like she was going to get physical, but the air was still thick with tension. I glanced around and noticed that, since we were near the entrance, a few people were starting to notice the situation. If a staff member found us, the situation might get even more complicated—and just then, someone wearing what looked like the facility's uniform approached us.
"──Um, excuse me. It seems you're making a bit of a commotion, is everything alright?"
"Ah, I'm sorry. It's just a little something about the court schedule… huh?"
"Hm? Oh, wow."
We both felt like asking what the other was doing here, but the staff member who spoke to us was, surprisingly,
"Maki, isn't it?"
"Emi-senpai."
The staff member who rushed over to us with a worried look on her face was none other than my senior from my part-time job, Emi-senpai. I wanted to ask what she was doing working here… but now wasn't the time for that.
"By the way, what's up? It feels like… a pretty intense scene here."
"Um, you see…"
Once I explained the current situation, the quick-witted Emi-senpai immediately stepped in between Umi and Arae-san.
"Ma'am, if there's a problem, I'll be happy to listen."
"…It's nothing. I just got the time wrong. It's already been resolved."
"I see. Then, Umi-cha… I mean, you as well?"
"Ah, um… Yes. It's fine. I'm sorry for the disturbance."
Perhaps having a third-party adult step in suddenly cooled their heads, as they both immediately reined in their blatant hostility and wore looks of embarrassment. For a moment, I was worried about what would happen, but as expected of Emi-senpai.
"…I'm leaving."
"? Ma'am, are you sure? Didn't you just pay the fee…?"
"I paid the money, so it's our business what we do with it. …Everyone, being here is just pissing me off, so let's go somewhere else."
As if her passion had completely cooled, Arae-san, who had returned to her usual sullen, grumpy face, said so and left the floor with her friends in tow.
…Leaving the ball and other equipment out.
"Ah, wait, Arae-san, the clean up…"
"It's fine, don't worry. I'll take care of that. I'm a staff member here, after all."
"I'm so sorry for everything… By the way, senpai, why are you here? What happened to our store?"
"I'm working two jobs, t-w-o j-o-b-s. I'm thinking of going on an overseas trip with friends during summer vacation, so I'm saving up for it. My current job just doesn't pay enough."
"I see, so that's why…"
I was worried that maybe she had a fight with the manager and quit, but that seemed to be a needless worry, and I was relieved. Just as she quickly resolved the situation here, Emi-senpai at work (strictly at work) is incredibly reliable. Although I myself have gradually gotten used to my daily work, it's still tough without my senpai's help.
"Well, it seems our troublesome customers have left, so I guess I'll get back to my usual duties. Oh, I'll be at the token exchange counter, so if anything happens, just call out to me."
"I'm sorry, senpai. You're busy, and we caused you extra trouble."
"Don't worry about it. If it were anyone else, maybe, but everyone here is a precious, cute junior of mine. Oh, are you two Umi-chan's acquaintances? Since we're here, why don't we exchange contact info?"
"Eh? Ah, yes, if you don't mind us—"
In this way, Emi-senpai continued to expand her community. I don't know when they exchanged contact info, but she's already acquainted with Umi and Amami-san. And she's still only a third-year in university… If I gain more experience, I wonder if I can become like Emi-senpai.
"If I slack off too much, my senpai will get on my case, so this time I'm really leaving. Everyone, you came all this way, so pull yourselves together and play a little more."
"Yes, thank you very much."
After parting with Emi-senpai, we left the sports corner and returned to the amusement floor one level below.
I'm not really in the mood to play after what happened… but maybe it's better to force a change of pace, even if it's a little rough.
"Umi, we came all this way, let's play for a bit."
"…Yeah. What about you, Yuu?"
"Then, I'll play too! Lately, Umi's been so clingy with Maki-kun that she won't hang out with me, so I hardly get a chance to play at places like this. What about Sanae-chan and Manaka-chan?"
"Sure. I told my parents I'd be late because of independent practice for my club."
"Well, you could say this is a form of independent practice too~"
The two of them readily agreed, so we decided to play a little longer. Medal games, prize games, racing, and rhythm games. At first, I wasn't really into it, but games are fun after all. As we played, my mood gradually improved.
"Ah~! Umi, using that item there is cheating! Stop it, I just got to first place, so that's forbidden! It's a forbidden card!"
"Aah~, I can't he~ar you~ Okay, fire."
"Gyah!? Jeez, Umi, you're so mean~!"
"Even if you say that, this is a competition~"
Above all, I'm glad that Umi and Amami-san seem to be having fun. It's hard to believe that just six months ago, there was a rift in their relationship; they both look like they're laughing from the bottom of their hearts.
…A sight that was probably common before I became 'friends' with Umi.
"Maehara-san? Are you thinking about something?"
"Nitori-san… Well, a lot of things."
As I watched Umi and Amami-san enjoying the racing game from behind, Nitori-san, who was next to me, struck up a conversation.
Due to a mistake she made towards Umi in the past, they became quite distant, but she (and Houjou-san) is also someone who can be called Umi's 'best friend'.
"It's just that, at times like this, I start to think… maybe I've done something wrong to Umi and Amami-san."
"Hmm. Is it the feeling that you've stolen their time together?"
"Ah, yes. …You understood well."
"Ahaha… Well, it's not like I don't have some idea of what you mean."
"…Come to think of it, that's right."
When you think about it, they had Umi, who they had been 'best friends' for all that time, taken away by the newcomer, Amami-san. Their positions are reversed, but they are two people in similar situations.
"To be honest, I was jealous of Yuu-chan at first too. Umi-chan had always been good friends with us, but she quickly surpassed us… and then, we were also easily charmed by Yuu-chan's appeal, and in the end, that happened… I'm sorry, Maehara-san. It's because of us."
"Let's not talk about that. Umi has already forgiven you."
She's bowing her head to me as if she's about to prostrate herself, so she must be quite remorseful for lying to Umi and hurting her. And she's paid the price for it properly.
"…Well then, let's get back to the topic. I can understand why you'd think that way, Maehara-san. Those two look so happy when they're together. They're so close that even we hesitate to get between them."
"So you think so too, Nitori-san."
"Of course. We're the ones who had Umi-chan taken from us, so in this case, our position is the opposite of yours, Maehara-san. …Maehara-san, it may be presumptuous of me to say this, but you're in a pretty good position, aren't you?"
"I-I'm flattered…"
If I map out our current situation with Umi and her friends' onto their past relationship, it would be [Past Amami-san = Me], [Past Nitori-san and others = Amami-san], so when I think about it that way, what Nitori-san says might be true. However, talking to her like this, Nitori-san also has a surprisingly strong presence.
…The girls around me are all scary when they're angry… no, they're all wonderful people who have their own opinions.
"Fufu, I'm just kidding. Anyway, those two have always been like that, but Manaka and I had fun in our own way. Watching Umi-chan and Yuu-chan somehow makes me happy too, and gives me energy… Maybe, just maybe, Yuu-chan feels the same way watching you and Umi-chan, Maehara-san."
"Amami-san, watching us…"
"Yes. A friend's happiness is one's own happiness… is how I should put it, I suppose. It's certainly lonely when someone you've been close to for so long moves away from you… but more than that, I now think that my friend's happiness is the most important thing. I happened to be watching Yuu-chan during Umi-chan's birthday party… and she had a very gentle smile on her face."
At that time, I was so preoccupied with Umi's present that I didn't have the luxury of paying attention to anyone else. I had thought that Amami-san had been enjoying teasing me and Umi about our relationship partly out of jealousy that I had monopolized Umi, but.
"…How about it? Was that helpful at all?"
"Yes, well, for now."
"I'm glad to hear that."
Having finished our conversation, Nitori-san and I returned our gazes to the racing game screen.
"Aww, I lost~! Umi, one more time! Just one more match~!"
"You're hopeless… Well, it's not fair to everyone else, so just one more time, okay?"
"Okay. Ehehe, I love you, Umi!"
"H-hey! The game's about to start, don't hug me… Jeez."
Watching the 'lovers' and 'friends' and their usual banter, a smile unintentionally spread across my face. A friend's happiness is one's own happiness.
…I think that's a good thing.
After enjoying the games to our hearts' content and lightening our moods and wallets, we were lined up in front of a certain machine for the day's finale.
Four girls and one boy, in front of a Photobooth. It was Amami-san's suggestion that we take a picture to commemorate the five of us gathering today.
"Ah, hey everyone, looks like they're done, let's go, let's go! Come on, Maki-kun, too. Don't be shy!"
"Um… I think I'll just wait outside, so the four of you can take your time and catch up…"
"Maki, come on."
"…Yes."
Just as I was about to escape, Umi caught me, and it was all over. I had a feeling this would happen the moment I agreed to hang out with four girls… but am I the only one who feels incredibly out of place?
"Heeh, so this is what it's like now. It's been a while since I've taken Photos from a photobooth, but they've evolved quite a bit."
"Hey, can we choose some stuff~?"
"Yeah! Pick something good!"
"Well, with Yuu, anything would look good though."
Since I'm a complete Photobooth novice, I can only follow the decisions of the four girls who are having a blast. We followed the audio guide to choose frames and other things, and then it was time for the photo shoot. The stars of the show here are the four of them, not me, so I tried to move to the edge of the frame—but for some reason, I found myself pushed to the center of the four of them.
"Umm… everyone, may I ask for an explanation?"
"Because I thought that would be way more interesting. Right, everyone?"
"""Yeah."""
The other three unanimously agreed with Amami-san's opinion, so it was four against one. Since it was a majority vote, I had no choice but to settle right between Umi and Amami-san, with Nitori-san and Houjou-san on either side.
──3, 2, 1.
Click. A picture straight out of a harem, that would definitely give everyone the wrong idea was displayed boldly on the screen. As if on cue, the four former close friends from Tachibana Girls' High pointed at my tense face.
How did it come to this?
"Hehe, everyone looks so cute. As expected of the latest tech."
"Yuu, since we're here, wanna try editing it a bit? Like making Maki's skin whiter, or making his eyes as big as a girl's."
"Why me…?"
"Fufu, that might be fun too… but let's leave it as it is this time. I want to keep it as a memento."
"…Right. Then, let's just add the date and our names, something simple."
And so, we wrote our names over the photo with the provided pen. The four of them + me, fitting perfectly within a cute frame. For a Photobooth machine packed with all sorts of fun features, it turned out to be a rather simple result, but this way, it probably won't be embarrassing to look back on later.
This is another new record for me.
"Mmm, we had a lot going on today, but it was fun playing with everyone~! Sanae-chan, Manaka-chan, thank you for today!"
"No, no. It was nice for the four of us to get together after so long."
"Me too~ I'm busy with club activities and lessons, but I'd be happy if we could hang out again~"
"You hear that, Umi? It'd be great if we could all hang out like this again, right?"
"…Yeah."
Although the four of them had drifted apart once, the memories they had built up until then didn't just disappear.
I'm sure there were things they did wrong. But if there's still even a small chance to start over, and if that's what they want.
Watching Umi smile to herself as she gazed at the finished stickers, I thought once again that my decision to encourage them to make up was not a mistake. After thanking Emi-senpai again for today, we left the arcade and went our separate ways. We practiced, had a confrontation and a little bit of trouble, and on top of that, we did something surprisingly youthful. A lot happened and I was tired, but I mustn't forget that it's still a weekday. The weekend is still a little ways off. So, I have to push myself a little more.
"Well then, Manaka and I will be going. Yuu-chan, Umi-chan, see you later."
"Maehara-san, see you too~"
"Yeah. See you."
I have plans to practice with Nitori-san and the others in the future, so we'll probably see each other again soon. Today we only practiced for a little while due to time constraints, but next time it seems we'll be doing it more thoroughly, so I have to be prepared. We talked on the train ride home, and it seems I'll be joining them for the things they always do for their independent practice.
…I pray that my heart doesn't explode midway through.
"Shall we get going too? Umi, I can walk you home if you'd like."
"Thanks. If you're offering, I think I'll take you up on that."
Perhaps because we're back to the usual members and there's no need to be considerate, Umi clings to my arm as if to be spoiled. The sun has set, and it's already getting dark. A perfect time to be lovey-dovey with my girlfriend in secret.
"Oh my, then I must be on my way. If I'm too much of a third wheel, you two won't be able to concentrate."
"There you go being considerate in weird ways again… It's already late, so it's fine if we go home together."
"No, no. I just contacted my mom, and she said my dad's nearby, so he'll pick me up."
"Uncle? Hey, if it's okay, could I say hi to him? I didn't get to see him at the birthday party after all."
"My dad? Yeah, sure. What about you, Maki-kun?"
"Um…"
I can't possibly say 'I'll just kill some time around here, so call me when you're done'… I can feel the 'pressure' from my cute girlfriend next to me. Amami-san's father. It's my first time meeting him, but it might be good to know what kind of person he is.
"…I'll join you."
"Okay. Then, let's wait a little longer, the three of us."
After waiting for about five minutes near the station entrance, a car approached the three of us. The passenger side window rolled down, revealing a serious-looking man with silver-framed glasses in the driver's seat.
"Dad, I'm home! And thank you for your hard work."
"Welcome home, Yuu. I was wondering what was up when your mother called me all of a sudden."
"Ehehe. I was having too much fun on my detour and ended up being a little late."
"I'm sorry, uncle. We were supposed to go home earlier, but… Ah, it's been a while."
"Umi-chan, it's been a while. I should have celebrated your birthday in person, but I had an unavoidable business trip… By the way, is that young man perhaps—"
"Ah, yes. I'm Maehara Maki. Amami-sa… Yuu-san has always been very kind to me—"
"You don't have to be so formal. I've heard a lot about you from my wife and daughter, so I've been wanting to meet you in person as well. On the contrary, thank you for always taking care of my daughter, Yuu. I'm her father, Amami Hayato."
Despite the sudden introduction, Hayato-san didn't show any sign of displeasure and listened to us with a calm demeanor. I was prepared to be scolded for keeping his precious daughter out this late… but whether it's Umi's father, Daichi-san, or Amami-san's father, Hayato-san, I'm very lucky to be blessed with such kind adults.
"If you two are heading home, would you like me to give you a ride? Maehara-kun, you're heading in the same direction, right?"
"Yes. But we're fine walking. It won't take that long, and besides, I promised to walk home with Umi. Right, Umi?"
"…Mm."
"Ah… I see. Well, if that's the case, it can't be helped."
Seeing Umi and me with our fingers tightly intertwined, Hayato-san quickly backed down. He didn't pry into our relationship and was very perceptive… As expected of Amami-san's father.
I wish his daughter, who is enjoying watching us with a 'Nfufu~' next to him, would learn a thing or two from him.
"Well then, we'll be off. Yuu, make sure to fasten your seatbelt."
"Umi, Maki-kun, bye-bye! See you tomorrow at school!"
"Yuu, don't oversleep and cause trouble for uncle and auntie, okay?"
"Amami-san, see you tomorrow."
After bidding farewell to Amami-san, who was waving so vigorously she looked like she might fall out of the window, we were finally alone. It was fun hanging out with Amami-san, Nitori-san, and Houjou-san, and I personally think it was a good thing.
…But if I were to be selfish, I might have wanted just a little more time to fool around with Umi alone.
"Umi, shall we go?"
"Yeah."
Side by side, we slowly started walking down the street illuminated by the streetlights. However, even at this time of year, it's chilly at night. We have to stick close together and keep each other warm so we don't catch a cold.
"Maki, you must be tired today. To be blunt, it was super tough, wasn't it?"
"Yeah. I tried not to let it show on my face, but honestly, I was pretty much at my limit around the Photobooth part."
I did my best to act calm so as not to worry Amami-san and the others, but as far as I was concerned, my day had ended the moment the trouble with Arae-san was over. If it were just playing around, it would have been fine, but this time there was a troublesome incident in between, so the fatigue hit twice as hard—I think I'm as tired as I was right after my first day of work.
"I see. You did well, Maki."
"Yeah. I did my best. Umi, praise me."
"Okay. There, there, good boy. You were cool, Maki."
I really wanted to jump into Umi's arms and be spoiled to my heart's content, but we were still on our way home, so for now, I'll have to be content with having my head patted.
"…Hey, Maki."
"Hm?"
"I'm sorry. I did something so unlike me back there."
"You mean about Arae-san?"
"…"
Nod, Umi agrees.
As Umi said, it was certainly unexpected for her to say something like that at that timing. She's heard about Arae-san from me and Amami-san, so she should have known that her reaction would be like that. Knowing that, Umi did it on purpose.
"But after being told all that, I just couldn't stay silent. If it were just me, it would have been fine, but she directed it at everyone… Yuu is trying her best to talk things out patiently, but I can't. I don't think I can get along with that person. I don't want to say this, but… it's like a physiological aversion."
And so, the words of rejection came out clearly. It's truly rare for Umi, who has always communicated with everyone on the surface, to say something like this. In other words, she'll treat her that way at school too. The backbiting I had never heard since becoming friends with Umi, no, probably even before that.
"! …Oh, sorry. I'm being so unlike myself again."
"You think so? I'm actually relieved that you're being the usual Umi."
"Eh?"
But for me, it wasn't that surprising.
"Because you're not perfect, are you, Umi? You try not to show it at school, but you're actually selfish, jealous, and your mouth can get pretty foul sometimes. And you're pretty quick to use your hands. You're a normal girl."
"Is that really normal? And I only use my hands because it's your fault Maki, not mine."
"And add 'quick to blame others' to the list."
"…You're mean."
Saying so, Umi playfully butts her head against my chest. She doesn't show it much in front of anyone but me, but Asanagi Umi is not always a model of good behavior in everything; she has the same ugly parts that everyone has. If she gets pissed off at someone like she did today, she'll get angry, and if she can't stand it, she'll even do things like start a fight. She might even talk bad about someone behind their back.
"Anyway, what I'm trying to say is, you're never 'unlike yourself,' Umi. The honor student at school is also 'like you,' and falling into self-loathing for being unlike yourself while complaining to me like this, I think it's all very Umi-like."
"So, you're saying everything I do is 'me-like'?"
"Well, I guess so."
That's just what I think, and maybe everyone else would say it's 'unlike her'. That the honor student 'Asanagi Umi' is just a mask to hide her true nature, and the side she shows me is her true self. But then, where did that mask to hide her true nature come from? A mask to hide one's inner self is not something you just pull from somewhere. It was born from the consciousness she developed that she shouldn't openly show her ugly parts to too many people—in other words, that mask is also an important piece in forming the person that is Umi… or so I think.
So, including all of that, I care deeply for Umi. …It's embarrassing to say things like this, so I can't really say it out loud properly.
"Umi, lend me your ear."
"? Yeah."
"────"
Squeeze, I hugged Umi tightly and whispered in her ear so that only she could hear. I had said something incredibly cheesy and straightforward, and wanting to hide my cheeks that were rapidly heating up, I put more strength into my arms that were holding her. Then, as if in response, Umi also wrapped her hands around my back, pressing herself even closer.
"Sheesh, Maki, you big dummy. You've been a little over the top lately… You're just way too in love with me."
"W-What's so wrong with that? We're a couple, you know."
"But you accept every little thing about me, no questions asked. If you keep spoiling me like this, I'm just gonna turn into a completely useless bum."
"And what's wrong with that? We'd be a perfect match then, so I'm all for it."
"…You really are a dummy."
The strength in Umi's arms suddenly vanished, and she leaned her entire body against me, entrusting me with her full weight.
"Well… if you're gonna say that, you better be ready to support me from now on, okay? 'Cause I probably can't stand on my own without you anymore, Maki."
"Of course. We'll always be together."
"Then I want a piggyback ride."
"Huh? When did this turn into physical support?"
"What the heck~? You just said you'd support me~ You liar, Maki, you dummy."
"No, I meant it in a more… spiritual sense."
Being at the mercy of Umi's whims is a real handful, but I can't help finding even that part of her endearing.
Our laughter echoed endlessly across the deserted country road, carrying into the night.
After yesterday's confrontation, the atmosphere in Amami-san's team took a nosedive. The very next day, an incident occurred that starkly highlighted the difference between their strained dynamic and Umi's team, who, with my support, were practicing harder than ever.
It happened during the fifth-period P.E. class after lunch.
As planned, our regular classes were suspended until the day of the class tournament, replaced by practice sessions for our respective events. I was on the softball team, and Umi was in basketball, so ordinarily, we would have been in separate locations—me on the grounds, her in the gym.
"…This rain's not lettin' up, huh?" I murmured, watching the intermittent downpour from the gloomy classroom window.
The weather, true to the fickle nature of the season, had taken a turn from yesterday's clear skies. A cold rain had been falling since morning, and a classmate on the P.E. committee informed us that both the boys and girls would be gathering in the gym.
"Maki, it's been a while since we've been together like this, huh?" Umi texted me.
"Yeah."
"Though, the practice itself will be separate for boys and girls, so we can only watch each other from a distance."
"Just having you watch is enough for me."
"Oh, and if we have a practice match against Yuu's team, you'll cheer for me, right?"
"Don't worry. I won't say it out loud, but I'll be rooting for you in my heart."
"Fufu, good."
"You did promise you'd support me, after all."
"I did, but when you put it that way, it suddenly feels like a lot of pressure."
"Just kidding. C'mon, if you take everything so seriously, I won't be able to tease you."
Even while typing that, Umi had been in high spirits all morning, clearly still happy about what happened yesterday. It was proof that my words reassured her, and I was glad to have earned more of her trust. Still, despite the good atmosphere, I'd tried way too hard to act cool, which wasn't like me at all.
…It's embarrassing just thinking about it now.
"Well, I have to go change, so I'll head out," Umi sent.
"Yeah. See you in the gym."
At this rate, she was bound to have a great practice. Umi's motivation was contagious, and it would undoubtedly spread to her teammates, making them a formidable opponent for our class.
As for Amami-san's team, which was set to face Umi's Class 11…
"…"
"…"
The atmosphere over there was the absolute worst it had ever been.
Given yesterday's clash, I half-expected Arae-san to say something to me for postponing the apology, but she didn't so much as glare at me or Amami-san. She just sat quietly at her desk, an aura of boredom radiating from her. Of course, "quiet" just meant she was completely ignoring us, so the tense, dangerous feeling in the air hadn't changed one bit.
"Amami-san, we should probably get going soon too."
"Oh, yeah. If we don't hurry, the changing rooms will get crowded."
Prompted by other classmates, Amami-san left the room, her gaze fixed worriedly on Arae-san.
I wonder what Amami-san thought about yesterday's events.
Umi and I had been the first to confront Arae-san, while Amami-san had watched anxiously from a step behind. We hadn't been speaking on her behalf. Would she continue to patiently seek dialogue, or would she finally give up, distance herself, and settle for a token relationship?
My loyalty was ultimately with Umi, but as a classmate and a friend, I couldn't help but worry about Amami-san.
…I know I'm meddling, but…
I quickly pulled out my phone and sent a message to a certain person.
"Nitta-san, you got a second?"
"Huh? A message from the class rep? How rare. What's up? Tryna hit on me?"
"No, it's about what we talked about at lunch."
"You could at least panic a little more. You're no fun."
"So, what's up? It's something you can't talk about in the group chat, right?"
"Well, yeah. Though, I'll tell Umi about it later."
"You two are attached at the hip, as always. So, what is it? I'll hear you out, but you'll owe me one."
"Thanks."
And with that, I asked Nitta-san, the only one in our group not directly involved, to keep an eye on Amami-san. She had some connection to Arae-san and was on good terms with most of the girls' cliques, so I figured she could help. I was a little worried about what "owing her one" would entail, but for now, I braced myself for the cost of a family restaurant meal and a pizza delivery.
"I see. I'll keep an eye on things, and if it looks bad, I'll step in," Nitta-san replied. "Though it's a pain."
"Sorry about this. I don't really have many people I can rely on in times like these."
"I bet. Can't think of many either."
"Really? That's surprising."
"No, it's not. This is normal. To-tal-ly normal. You're lucky, Class Rep. Being surrounded by good people."
"I'm grateful for that."
"You really mean that? Well, whatever. Class is starting, so that's that."
"Yeah, thanks."
"Yup. Oh, and one last thing. You should probably stop doing this kind of thing."
"What do you mean?"
"I think it depends on the person, but a lot of girls don't like it when their boyfriends secretly message other girls. Even if you tell her about it later, it's not a good look."
"Even if there's a reason?"
"Even then. You might think it's a valid reason, Class Rep, but that's just your perspective. It might not be the same for Asanagi."
"Oh, I said 'Asanagi.' Sorry, scratch that."
"You don't have to, but… I see. You're right. I'll be more careful."
"Mmm~"
It's easy to forget when you're just texting, but this exchange was no different from the two of us talking in secret behind Umi's back. Maybe I was being overly cautious, but to put her completely at ease, it was the right thing to do.
"…For now, I'll give Umi a quick report."
I sent Umi a brief message about my conversation with Nitta-san and then headed to the gym.
Dating and friendships. I thought I had a handle on them, but there's still so much I don't know.
After changing into my gym shoes, I entered the gymnasium to find practice already underway. The court was split down the middle, with boys on one side and girls on the other. Judging by the equipment the teacher was setting up, the boys were playing volleyball, and the girls, basketball. Since I wasn't scheduled for volleyball, it looked like I'd be on ball-boy duty.
As I stretched my stiff muscles in a corner of the court, I overheard the hushed voices of some of the guys. I didn't want to hear the details, so I moved away, but it was clear they were talking about Amami-san as she practiced her shooting—specifically, about how amazing her chest was.
Since she was about to start practicing, Amami-san had taken off her jersey and was now just in her gym shirt. A white shirt with the blue school emblem of the second-years embroidered on the chest. I could see her undershirt through the collar, so it wasn't see-through, but… as I watched her practice, I quickly understood what they meant by "amazing."
"──My, my, they're certainly bouncing, aren't they? I won't say what."
"…Are you talking to me?"
"Is there anyone else here?"
"…No, but."
"Oops, sorry if I offended you. If you're free, wanna chat a bit?"
I hadn't noticed her approach, but there was Nakamura-san, stretching beside me and making such indelicate remarks.
"Honestly, it's fine when we're separate, but as soon as we're all together, the staring and whispering starts. Sizing up girls' bodies. Boys are such a foolish species. I won't go so far as to call it filthy, but your thoughts are far too dominated by your lower halves."
"I see. Well, I'm kind of the same."
"Really? I thought you were more sensible than most guys… oh, wait, in your case, it's not sensibility, just being crazy about Umi-pai. My apologies."
"U-Umi-pai…?"
It was a… unique nickname, but I had a pretty good idea what she was referring to, so I decided not to press the issue. It seemed Nakamura-san had noticed I wasn't watching Amami-san, but Umi, who was practicing at the opposite basket. It sounds like an excuse, but I was watching all of Umi, not just one part like my classmates.
Well, it's a fact that my eyes were drawn there, so in that sense, I'm just as much a member of the 'foolish species' as anyone.
"Lining up like this really drives it home; you're really tall, Nakamura-san. Did you play any sports in middle school?"
"Nope. I was a perfectly normal literature girl who loved mysteries. But for some reason, I was blessed with a good physique, so I'm always in high demand for events like this. I was torn between volleyball and basketball, but this time, I was won over by the charm of Umi-pai."
"…You know I'm not going to react to that, right?"
"Oh my, what a shame."
Laughing heartily, Nakamura-san took off her black-rimmed glasses. I hadn't paid much attention before, what with her plain frames and peculiar way of speaking, but up close, she had a very dignified face. Her looks were more androgynous, the kind that would likely be more popular with girls than guys.
"Well then, that's that. I have to go soon. We have a match coming up, but you'll be sure to cheer for your dear Asanagi-chan, right, Maehara-kun?"
"Of course… but she's on the opposing team in the class tournament, so I'm a bit conflicted."
"Really? Is there a need to be conflicted? Cheering for a team like that, even if they are in the same class, will only build up frustration, don't you think?"
"Eh?"
"Well, that's that."
With a snort, Nakamura-san jogged over to the basket where Umi and the other four members were waiting.
"Hey, hey, Nakamura, what were you talking about with Maehara-shi?"
"Mio, because you were happily chatting with Maehara-kun, our ace's accuracy has plummeted, you know? Right, Asanagi-san?"
"Wh…!? N-No, I'm not! I, well, I trust him…"
"Hey everyone, Asanagi-chan is as cute as ever!"
" " "Totally." " "
"C-C'mon, you guys are all dummies…"
I could hear them perfectly, which made me feel a bit awkward, but their teamwork was clearly excellent. And Umi, blushing and fidgeting, was undeniably cute.
On the other hand…
"Um, excuse me, Arae-san."
"…What?"
"Things got a little tense yesterday, but, um, let's do our best today, okay? I'll do my best too, so let's work hard together?"
"…"
"? Um, Arae-sa—"
"Shut up. Don't talk to me."
"…"
Aside from the other four on Amami-san's side, Arae-san had been acting alone since warm-ups. Right now, there was no getting through to her.
"It's fine, Amami-san."
"Forget about her. Let's just do our best with the four of us."
"We're counting on you, Amami-san."
The other three, unaware of yesterday's incident, were no longer hiding their frustration with Arae-san's refusal to cooperate.
Cheering for a team like that will only build up frustration, huh?
"…That's true, but hearing it from someone in a different class is somehow frustrating…"
Nakamura-san might have a point, but with Amami-san on that team, I couldn't bring myself to abandon them. It looked like Amami-san's team and Umi's team were about to start a practice match, and I couldn't help but wonder how it would unfold. As classmates from both classes watched over their respective teams, the match between Class 10's A-team and Class 11's A-team was about to begin.
According to the school's rules for the class tournament, the girls' division would consist of two 10-minute halves. In the league matches, a tie would result in a draw, with overtime only in the final tournament. All other standard rules applied.
Umi's team gathered in a spirited huddle before the match began.
"Alright, everyone. Today's just a rehearsal, but we'll be facing them in the real thing too. If we're going to do this, let's go for the win," Nakamura-san declared.
"Nakamura, why are you taking the lead? That's the captain's job, isn't it? Right, Asanagi-chan?"
"There's no rule that says the captain has to do it… but well, I don't mind."
With that, Umi closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She had a history with her opponent, but I was glad to see she seemed calm.
"──Everyone, let's win! Class 11, fight!"
"""Yeah—!"""
A spirited shout, as if it were a real match, echoed through the gym, drawing cheers from the girls of Class 11. Their class had a higher ratio of girls, so their cheers were naturally louder.
Seeing this, Amami-san seemed to want to form a huddle with her own team, making eye contact with her teammates, but one of them completely ignored her, and she gave up.
At the teacher's whistle, everyone moved to the center of the court. The gazes of the captains, Umi and Amami-san, met.
"Umi, I'm sure you know this, but don't hold back. That's no fun."
"Of course. Not that I think I could afford to go easy on you, Yuu."
After a firm handshake, the game began with a jump ball.
"Nakamura-san, can I count on you as planned?" Umi asked.
"Leave it to me. This is the perfect opportunity to use this huge body of mine."
The jumper for Class 11 was Nakamura-san, the tallest of the five. Umi was the second shortest, and their team had the clear height advantage.
"Um, what should we do? Arae-san is the tallest among us, but…"
"…Amami can do it. I'll pass."
"Okay, I'll do it then."
On our side, Amami-san stepped up. There was probably a ten-centimeter height difference between her and Nakamura-san, and since Nakamura-san had mentioned being scouted for volleyball, her reach was likely even greater.
But it was Amami-san who won the first jump ball.
"Ugh, s-so high…!?"
"──Nngh!"
Nakamura-san's jump wasn't bad, but Amami-san's was simply higher. Despite the difference in height and reach, Amami-san won the aerial battle, smacking the ball toward her team's side of the court. Gasps of admiration rippled through the onlookers at her incredible athleticism.
The bouncing ball went straight to Arae-san.
"…Hah."
I thought she might let it go, but with a look of annoyance, she caught it and began to dribble slowly toward the enemy's side.
"Arae-san!"
"Well, I'll at least play. It'll be a pain if I slack off and something happens again."
"…Yeah. That's enough for now. Thank you."
"…Annoying."
She was as foul-mouthed as ever, but at least she wasn't abandoning the game. That said, it didn't seem like she was planning on playing actively either.
"Pass."
"Oh, u-uhm…"
After advancing a little, Arae-san immediately passed the ball back to Amami-san. As our team's ace, it made sense to get the ball to her, but…
Arae-san's ball handling… it seems good.
It was just a quick glance, but her dribbling and her pass to Amami-san—every movement seemed practiced. In fact, the pass landed perfectly in front of Amami-san's chest, right where it would be easiest to catch. Come to think of it, when she'd interfered with Amami-san's shot yesterday, she'd hit the ball with pinpoint accuracy. It was possible it was a coincidence, but the chances of an amateur pulling that off were extremely low.
Could she have played basketball before?
Well, I'd probably find out if I kept watching.
"Sorry, Asanagi-chan, they took the ball."
"Don't worry. Let's get it back," Umi replied, quickly organizing her team into a defensive formation. "Mmm, okay."
They seemed to be going with a man-to-man marking strategy, but the matchups were surprising.
"Fufu, hello there. Yuu-pa… I mean, Amami-chan. I've heard a lot about you from Asanagi-chan. I'm Nakamura Mio, nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too, Nakamura-san. I'm Umi's best friend, Amami. Um, more importantly, what were you about to call me just now?"
"Ah, I just stumbled over my words a little. Don't mind me."
Listening closely, I could hear Nakamura-san about to say something unnecessary again. As the boys had noted earlier, Amami-san's 'assets' were certainly more noticeable than Umi's, but thanks to Nakamura-san's weird comment, I couldn't stop thinking about chests. This was not good.
Aside from them, the real problem was the remaining pair.
"…"
"…"
With a squeak of her shoes, Umi moved to mark Arae-san.
"What do you want?"
"Nothing."
After that brief exchange, the two averted their gazes, maintaining a cautious distance. Considering Arae-san's personality, her reaction was business as usual, but after yesterday, I couldn't help but feel a knot of anxiety in my stomach. I just hoped things wouldn't get too heated and escalate beyond simple defense.
"Ah, geez, of all the…" Arae-san muttered. "? Arae-san?"
"Amami, over here."
With that, she beckoned to Amami-san with her index finger, a clear sign to pass the ball. Amami-san, looking stunned but instantly understanding, sent the ball over.
"Hmph, feeling a little motivated now?" Umi asked.
"Not really."
"I see."
As Arae-san held the ball, seemingly in a daze, Umi's hand shot out. I thought she had the steal, taking advantage of the momentary lapse, but the ball wasn't in Umi's right hand.
"!?"
At the exact moment Umi moved, Arae-san dodged, passing the ball behind her back as if to mock her. She then drove toward the basket. The unexpected play from someone who had shown zero motivation until that point left everyone on the court frozen.
"…Here."
Easily shaking off Umi's defense, she shot the ball with the same momentum. It was a lazy form, neither a layup nor a proper under-the-basket shot, but the ball sailed cleanly through the center of the hoop.
"A-Amazing…"
A voice, probably Amami-san's, rose from the court. But I was just as surprised as everyone else watching from the sidelines and didn't have the luxury to confirm. As the ball bounced under the basket, Arae-san turned to Umi and muttered.
"Lame."
It was a clear imitation of Umi's tone from yesterday. Payback.
She hadn't said a word, but she was almost certainly an experienced player. And a talented one at that.
"…You were hiding that until now," Umi said, seething.
"Not really."
Glancing at Umi's frustrated expression, Arae-san slowly returned to her side of the court.
"A-Amazing, amazing! Arae-san, did you play basketball? You should have told me!"
"…I don't need to tell you."
"That may be so, but… that was incredible just now! So cool!"
"Whatever."
It was an individual play that ignored the team dynamic, but while most of her teammates were bewildered, Amami-san praised her honestly. Considering their strained relationship, it must have been difficult, but that was just Amami-san's nature.
In any case, the first point went to Class 10.
"Don't worry, Asanagi-chan. The opponent was just better that time."
"I didn't expect her to be an experienced player. Let's get it back next time."
"Yeah. You're right."
She'd been blindsided by Arae-san's unexpected skill, but with her teammates' encouragement, Umi quickly regained her composure.
Amami-san's team had the technical advantage, while Umi's team had teamwork.
The game had only just begun.