Source
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n5612jg/38/
Since the gymnasium is used for open school, the basketball team and Rikuto’s badminton team apparently practice running and weights during this period.
Rikuto probably went to the nearby weight room because the cafeteria was not open to the public.
Pipe chairs were taken out from under the stage and arranged evenly.
With the large number of junior high school students participating, there was proportionally more to prepare, and it took longer than expected.
We were supposed to finish before noon, but we were told to have lunch.
Since the cafeteria was not open, we decided to eat outside and left the gym.
“Wait a minute.”
Hananoi stopped me.
“What is it?”
“I’m also having lunch now, wanna go together?”
What kind of wind was blowing in her face?
I’m sure we went out for ramen, but we don’t go out to eat often.
“……Are you up to something?”
“What are you talking about?
Are you going or not?”
“Well, let’s go.”
“Nn.”
I could have said no, but it’s not like I don’t want to go, so I decide to go with her.
It’s not like we’re going to fight like we did in the past.
“Now that I think about it, you came second in the test again.”
I thought we were going to walk in silence, but Hananoi spoke to me.
“Well. I had a stomachache that day. If it hadn’t been for that, I would have come in first place.”
In other words, it was all Ayaka’s fault.
When I said that, Hananoi laughed.
“What’s that? That’s just an excuse.”
“Gah ! …Your name wasn’t listed this time either.”
“The last one was just a coincidence. Don’t you know that? I’m not very smart to begin with.”
“You’re a natural idiot. ..Ouuch !”
When I answered that, she stepped on my foot.
“What are you doing !”
“Nothing. I’m just pissed off.”
“Why you…..”
We walked side by side, fighting a little.
The fight, however, was not as tense as before, but rather….
I wonder if it is my imagination that Hananoi has become more rounded since that day.
“Wait a minute—!”
As I was about to leave the gate, I heard a shout from behind me and involuntarily turned around.
I turned around to see an out-of-breath Ayaka and a handsome, fresh looking man beside her.
“Ayaka? What is it?”
“What are you two doing !?”
“I’m going out to eat now.”
“I-I’m coming with you !”
“Huh? What about club activities?”
“I had morning practice today, so I thought I’d eat now and go home ! What? You don’t like it?”
“I don’t mind, but…”
It must be awkward.
What kind of brother would have dinner with his current sister and his former sister?
“Hey, Ayaka. You won’t be bothering your brother too much, will you?”
The handsome guy next to her is calming Ayaka down.
From the way he talks, it seems like he has a friendly relationship with Ayaka.
The handsome guy turns to us and introduces himself.
“I’m Umeki Shouma, sophomore. Ayaka’s senior in the track and field club. Nice to meet you.”
I shook his hand and said my name.
Following suit, Hananoi also named herself.
“I’m Mitsui Kenshito.”
“My name is Hananoi Miyu.”
There was something suspicious about Umeki senpai, who had a refreshing smile that looked like something drawn in a picture.
“Are you two dating?”
“No, we are not ! We’re just strangers !”
It was Ayaka who answered the question.
“Erm…is that so?”
Umeki senpai looks troubled.
He seems to be having a hard time too.
I feel bad for thinking that he’s shady.
“He’s just a friend. Just a friend.”
“Eh?”
When I said that, Hananoi looked at me and widened her eyes.
“What is it?”
“No, nothing. I see, so friends….”
Seeing Hananoi with a somewhat happy expression on her face, Ayaka had a suspicious look.
“If Ayaka is going, would you like me to join?”
“Of course.”
It’s tiring for me to deal with Ayaka, so it’s nice to have a senior who’s willing to take the role.
The four of us left school and headed to a nearby family restaurant.
On the way, Ayaka kept staring at me, but I ignored her because I didn’t want to get involved.
Since it was a weekday, we took our seats without waiting.
After we each placed our orders, the topic of conversation turned to club activities.
“Umeki senpai, how are your grades in track and field and so on?”
“I don’t know. I’m not an ace, but I think I’m doing pretty well. Ayaka is amazing in comparison.”
Saying that, he placed his hand on Ayaka’s head.
Is it because he is a popular man that he can act like this?
Ayaka looks uncomfortable, but…
“Ayaka is our ace. She qualified for the prefectural tournament in the last Inter-High qualifying round even though she was a first-year student.”
“Heh.”
“She’s not as bad as she looks.”
“You should be more interested ! I mean, how come Kenshiro doesn’t know !”
Even if you told me such a thing, because I’m not interested in anything like that.
“Well, Kenshiro kun, are you involved in any club activities?”
Umeki senpai asks as if to divert the conversation.
“No, nothing.”
“Really? What a waste of time. You’re so athletic.”
“How does Senpai know about Kenshiro’s athleticism?”
Umeki senpai smiles and answers Ayaka’s question.
“Kenshiro kun and Karasawa Makoto kun were the talk of the town when they first entered the school. It was said that there was someone who got a perfect score in every event on the physical fitness test.'”
“Eh !? Is that so !?”
Ayaka was surprised, perhaps because she did not know about it.
Hananoi did not seem particularly surprised.
“I heard that his times and records for each and every one of them were among the best in the country.”
Ayaka bows even more at this information.
“So, I think it’s a waste. Why aren’t you doing anything?”
Umeki senpai asks me with a look of sincere wonder on his face, and I answer with my heart.
“I wanna work part-time, and I’m not interested in club activities in the first place. Also, I don’t have a perfect score in all of them. Both Makoto and I got a 9 in ball throwing.”
“I see, well, everyone has their own thoughts. But it’s a shame that you have so much talent.”
“It’s not talent !”
The one who denied that was not me, but Ayaka.
“The reason why Kenshiro is so athletic and so good in his studies is because he works harder than anyone else ! Please don’t put it away with the word talent.”
Ayaka’s eyes looked angry as she said this.
“Ayaka, you’re getting too heated. You’re bothering everyone around you.”
Hananoi, who had been quiet, warned Ayaka.
“No, I’m sorry. I’m sure you’re right.
It’s the result of your efforts, Kenshiro kun. I’m sorry.”
He was a good-natured senior.
There was no need to be concerned about it, but he apologized to me as well.
“No, I don’t mind. I’m just self-satisfied, so I don’t care what other people think.”
“I see, Ayaka knew that Kenshirou could exercise. I thought you didn’t know because you were surprised.”
“T-that’s !? I never thought he’d get a perfect score on the physical fitness test… I mean, you knew that?”
“Of course I did. We went to the same junior high school.”
For some reason, I tilted my head when I saw Hananoi looking proud and Ayaka looking frustrated.
After leaving the family restaurant, I left Ayaka in Umeki senpai’s charge and we started walking towards school.
Ayaka was also noisy about going back, but I managed to convince her to stay out of my way.
“That girl is really noisy. You often deal with her every day.”
Hananoi said, holding her temples.
“No, I just deal with her as I see fit. Hananoi, you seem to be getting along well with her.”
“It’s nothing special, it’s just that we started talking normally the other day when I stayed over. In fact, we used to fight a lot.”
Indeed, they were arguing over small things during the meal.
I’m used to it, so it’s fine, but Senpai was slightly taken back.
“They say the more you fight, the better you get along, right?”
“Then you were good friends?”
When asked that, I can immediately answer NO.
“This means I’m one step behind.”
“You’re an idiot. But well…”
Miyu muttered in a voice that Kenshiro couldn’t hear.
“We’re friends now, though.”
“Huh? Did you say something?”
“Nothing, c’mon, let’s head back.”
Saying that, Hananoi suddenly starts running.
I hurriedly followed her.
I didn’t understand why Hananoi was unusually excited.
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