Episode 13 – An altered future is not always the best

I turned around and there she was, the person I had just been wondering how to reach out to, Takimoto-san.

“Thanks for earlier! What can I do for you in the gym?”
“Aah, Umm I thought you were back to practice…?”
“I’m just going to the bathroom and getting a new drink! I’m on my way back now!”

Apparently, I arrived too early.
But this was an opportunity.
I better stop her from practicing here, because if she goes back to practice, she won’t be able to do it again

“Actually, I have an errand to run for Takimoto-san.”
“For Suika?”
“Ah……… I think you should stop practicing after all, because of the injury you sustained earlier.”
“Eeh~, you came all the way here to tell me that? It’s alright. See!”

Takimoto-san jumped up and down energetically on the spot to show that she was fine.

“Ah, wait, you shouldn’t jump around so much….”

But I, who had just seen the injured future, stopped her, breaking out in a cold sweat at the sight of her.

“You’re overreacting! Then, Suika, really has to go back to practice soon. Thanks for worrying about me!”

This is not good. I could talk to her, but if I don’t, Takimoto-san might really injure her right leg.

…… right leg?
I thought it was her left leg that was sprained.
Wait, not that. While I was thinking about it, Takimoto-san was approaching the entrance of the gymnasium.

“T-takimoto san!”
“Hoe?”

She turned around again at my call.

“Ah, um, …… your right leg doesn’t hurt?”
“My right leg? I don’t know if there’s anything wrong….! It’s my left leg that’s hurt you know?”
“Y-yes. umm, I was worried that you might hurt your right leg too, if you protect your left leg or something.”
“Ah~, yeah, like that! Ahahaha, you really are a worrier! it’s fine, Suika will take care of it~”
“Ah yeah,…… I know I’m being persistent, but you really have to be careful about injuries.”
“I don’t know what you’re so worried about,……, but yes! I’ll be careful. Thanks!”

Takimoto san said that and dashed to the court on the far side of the gymnasium.

“Are you sure you’re okay,……?”

Seeing this, I couldn’t shake the worry.
In the end, I ended up just advising her.

“I’ve done all I can do, so there’s no point in thinking about it any more. ……”

I have to cool down my nerves about certain things and not switch over like that.
I have nothing to do with it, and there is no need for me to get involved.

“….I mean, can’t help it”

I looked at my knees, which were no longer able to do the strenuous exercise they used to do, and muttered a little.

◆

I thought about going home, but I was still curious, so I watched the girls’ basketball team practice through the emergency door that was opened from the outside, just as I had seen in the future.

The time I would have seen in the future has already passed. The scene I saw in the future must have been around seventeen o’clock. The time now is 17:30.

The future must have changed for the better after the conversation we had at the entrance to the gymnasium.
The girls’ practice went without incident, and Takimoto-san did not get hurt.

“It was a false alarm.”

It was time to go home. I turned around to go home.

“Suika! Are you all right?”
“You fell like a stone!”

With a thump, a noisy voice came from the women’s basketball team.

“……Why?”

─ ─ Didn’t the future change?

I rushed back to the gymnasium. I went through the emergency door from outside, took off my shoes and went inside.
The girls around me were looking puzzled by my sudden entrance.

“Ouchhh….Huh? Arase-kun?”
“Huh….?”

When I got there, there was Takimoto-san, who had slowly woken up.
And she looked rather healthy.

In the future, she had a sad expression on her face and was unable to get up.
However, now she is looking at me with a blank expression on her face and seems to be in no pain.

……Maybe it’s nothing?

“Hey~, is that your boyfriend, Suika?”
“You mean your boyfriend came to see you because he’s worried about you?!”
“Didn’t she say she wasn’t interested in men~?”

The girls were suddenly excited. The environment was completely away from home.
I was wrong, damn it. I’ve made a mistake. ……

“Wait, we’re not all like that! It’s not like that!”

Takimoto san’s face turned bright red and she denied it.

…… This is very awkward.

Not only a boyfriend, but a new student She just talked to in the infirmary earlier today.

It’s only been a few days since I transferred to this school, but I feel like I’ve done something wrong. It’s the last thing I want to do.
It’s a good thing she didn’t get hurt, but I regret my indiscretion.
What to do? How do I get out of this?

“A-anyway, It’s not like that! Practice—Ouch!”

As she tried to stand up while admonishing everyone, Takimoto-san cowered on the spot, unable to get up.
Seeing this, the temperature of the surroundings rapidly cooled.

“Wait, Suika, are you sure you’re okay? Did you twist your left leg again?”
“Umm, my left leg is fine, but, umm, …… a little discomfort in my right leg?”
“Are you okay…?”
“Haha …… it’s fine! It’s my right foot, I think it’s just my imagination!”
“No! Suika always pushes herself so hard like that. For now, the infirmary!”

The girls then surrounded her, supporting her and helping her to stand up.
It seems that she escaped serious injury, but she still felt a sense of discomfort.
It was a blessing in disguise.

“If you’re not her boyfriend……, why on earth did you come in?”

Meanwhile, I was being questioned by someone who was probably the captain of the women’s basketball team. Fortunately, there seemed to be no advisor.

I’m a complete outsider.
I had no choice but to answer …… honestly.

“I was the one who taped Takimoto-san. I was worried that she might have gotten hurt because of that, so I came in.”
“Hnn~~~? Really?”
“Yes, it’s true…”

She stares at me suspiciously and tries desperately to mend her ways.
There is no lie there at all. It is true that I was worried about him.
But I can’t say that I knew the future that she would get hurt, so I’m a bit nervous about it.

“Really, that’s all it takes to enter the room with blood on your hands, normally?”
“I’m a serious health committee member…….”
“Hnn~~~?”

I’m being insanely suspicious……! Sure, it’s weird no matter how you look at it!

“Fufu, I see what you mean.”

…… what?
She seems very convinced, but I don’t get it at all.
It just seems to have been cut through somehow. And then, just for a moment, I thought.

“Hey, guys. I heard he’s taking her to the infirmary.”
“”Eh?””

Two voices overlapped. One was me, of course, and the other was Takimoto-san, who was supported by everyone in the club.
After that, the girls started cackling again.

“Well, take care of Suika, okay? Just to be safe, give her a piggyback ride.”
“”…………””

The captain of the women’s basketball team, who lightly winked at me with a snap and asked me to do it.

And so I left the gymnasium with Takimoto-san piggybacked on my back, receiving a 360-degree view from all sides.

I felt a slight soft sensation on my back.
The awkward time with the silent Takimoto-san.

I really hope you give me a break.

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