Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16817139558660048790/episodes/16817330657272400136
P.E. class is over and we leave the locker room.
“Sorry, I have to go to the bathroom first.”
“Oh? A big one?”
“No. You go ahead.”
“Okay, I’ll be back. Kaede chan’s class is next, so don’t be late.”
“Don’t say that in front of her, okay?”
Kaede chan is the name of Kirihara Sensei. For some reason, Sosuke has recently started calling her that. Whenever the teacher finds out, she gives me a hard time, but for some reason, I can’t help but think that she’s happy about it.
After I told Sosuke, I went into the restroom and noticed that there was someone else in there.
Somewhat awkwardly, I walk next to the person.
I don’t know why it’s so hard to get out when there’s someone next to me. It’s not like I’m being watched, but it’s strange.
“…………”
And when the person next to me finally comes into view, I realize that the person who was just talking with Sosuke is a tall, slender person.
That person – Nakashiro – is a tall, slender man with a neat face. No wonder he is so popular.
“What is it? Are you staring at me?”
“N-nothing at all. ……”
“Good. I thought you were that type of guy.”
“No, I’m not.”
He was very perceptive. I didn’t mean to stare at you like that. Not that I don’t appreciate it, but it was just a glimpse, okay?
Definitely not one of those types.
“…………”
“…………”
Awkward. After that, after we both finished our business, we sat next to each other in the bathroom and the silence continued.
We are not friends or anything, so it’s fine to leave it like this,……, but I still feel awkward and look for something to say.
So, for some reason, the other side started talking to me.
“Ito. You’re really a good basketball player, aren’t you?”
“No, I’m not that good at basketball. Why?”
“Because I saw you shooting the ball lightly by yourself during a break. It was clearly that of an experienced player.”
“…………, well, I have experience, but that’s it”
“I heard you were good.”
“…… by who?”
I don’t know if I’m any good, but who in the world would say such a thing?
“Takimoto of the Women’s basketball.”
Suika, huh? I was surprised that he talked to me, but I didn’t expect him to talk about basketball.
“That Takimoto said that, so I thought it must be something special.”
“Are you two close?”
“I’m just normal. But I think Machida seems to be good with her.”
Machida ……? Who was it?
I don’t remember at all.
“Besides, Ito and her get along better. They even play one-on-one in the park at night.”
“No, well, …… it just kind of happened.”
I don’t know how you know that we played a 1-on-1.
Well, the only time I talk about my basketball game is that time,…….
……… but why did you start talking about me?
“Come to think of it, I don’t think Suika has been doing so well, do you know?”
Then I remembered how I had seen Suika earlier and decided to ask her since I was in the mood.
“Takimoto? That’s unusual. She’s always so noisy.”
“……Well, that’s for sure.”
After all, Suika seems to be in such a position in the men’s basketball team. Typical of Suika
“Maybe it’s that.”
“That?”
“The other day, there was a qualifying round for the national championships, and in that game, she missed a shot that would have won the game in reverse if it had gone in.”
“Aah …….”
“If it had gone in, it would’ve been a buzzer-beater, and she would’ve been the hero.”
“….so that’s it”
“The third year students are about to retire. I’m sure that’s why she’s depressed. You can cheer her up if you want. The atmosphere in the gym is a little darker when she’s like that.”
“Why me..?”
“You guys are so close that you call each other by your first names, aren’t you?”
Nakashiro says so and smiles. He certainly looks like he’s going to be popular.
And when you say it like that, it’s hard to argue with you.
“Well, I’m going to go now, but if you want, you can play 1-on-1 with me.”
“No, I don’t think I can compete with the ace of the basketball team.”
“I don’t know. Well, anyway, I’ll look forward to seeing you at the next P.E. session. I’ll see you later.”
Nakashiro’s eyes glazed over and he left the restroom first.
…………. what was that? That eye …… is kind of similar to Suika’s.
The eyes of the person who has set eyes on someone will not let him or her go?
I mean, I usually don’t want to deal with it you know?
It’s not that I don’t like Nakashiro, I just don’t want to get tired of him. I was too busy dealing with suika the other day.
But still, was that the reason for Suika’s lack of energy?
It’s that the buzzer beater …… signals the end of the game and the shot is taken.
Certainly, if it had gone in, Nakashiro would have been right, and she would have been a hero.
The reverse is also true.
I don’t think it’s Suika’s fault if it didn’t go in, but given her personality, I think she’d care. Especially if the third-year students are about to retire.
I was thinking about this, and as I continued out of the restroom, I almost bumped into a student who was also coming out of the women’s restroom.
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
“I’m sorry too. …Arase-kun?”
“What, Suika?”
“Mu? What did you say?!”
“No, I’m sorry. In the bathroom, I was talked to by a guy I don’t usually talk to. So we started talking about Suika.”
“Eh? About me?! What were you talking about? I mean, who were you talking to?”
“It’s Nakashiro. The men’s Basketball. Suika, you talked about me, how I’m a good basketball player and whatnot.”
“S-So that’s what it’s about. …… When it comes up in conversation without Suika’s knowledge, I get curious about it~. I thought it was a bad reputation.”
“Suika also talked about me without my knowledge, didn’t she?”
“Eh? Ehehe~ …..I-I wonder~?”
This guy …….
Suika blatantly looked away when I pointed it out. Well, I don’t mind.
But when I talked to Suika, she seemed to be in better spirits than I had expected.
However, she was still somewhat more awkward than usual.
This is where I remembered what Nakashiro had said earlier.
–If you want, you can cheer her up.
Although I’m not good at that kind of thing,…….
Well, it can’t be helped. I’d be out of sorts if I didn’t cheer up Suika.
“……Well, don’t be so depressed.”
“……eh?”
“Look, I heard from Nakashiro that at the last competition,……”
“…….”
Suika’s eyes fluttered.
“Well, even though three years have retired, sooner or later they’re going to come back. You shouldn’t think it’s your fault.”
“Umm, Arase-kun. What are you talking about?”
“Hee……?”
Suika, who was listening to me, says with a kyoton.
…… did I say something wrong?
“No. So you missed your last shot in the last all-around tournament, right? That’s why you lost and the third year students retired. ……”
“Umm, they haven’t retired yet, right?”
“……?”
“I-It’s true, I missed the last shot, but I wasn’t in first place to begin with, and I’m sure I won’t be able to play in the inter-high school tournament. …… The final is a league game. Thanks to the other schools’ performance, this time, we got to stay in. So I’ll be able to play in the regional tournament at the beginning of next month, so I guess it’s still a little while away.”
“…… weren’t you observing gym earlier?”
“Oh, did you notice? What about it?”
“No, I thought you were depressed about it.”
“Ehh!? No, I don’t! If I had time to get depressed over something like that, I’d practice so I could get in next time!”
“…………”
That bastard ……!
That’s a load of crap, isn’t it? ……
“Then why did you take the day off? Suika, a basketball junkie, is a rarity.”
“B-basketball junkie,……, Suika has times when she’s sick too!”
“That Suika ……?”
“S-So even Suika has days like that! Arase-kun, could it be that you don’t have any delicacy?”
“…… Sorry.”
Apparently, I was not supposed to mention it.
I kind of guessed and said no more.
“Mouu ……! But you were worried about me, right? thanks”
“Y-You’re welcome. But it’s amazing. I can’t believe you made it to the regional competition.”
“Hehee, of course! The tournament is in the next prefecture. You can come and see it if you want! Oh, no! My next class is starting! Bye!”
Without waiting for my reply, Suika rushed away.
And just as I was about to head to the classroom, the chime rang.
Of course, Kirihara-sensei was furious with me.
…………. but I am glad to hear that Suika is doing well.
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