Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16817139558660048790/episodes/16818093076486603237
“Haa? Of course not.”
I skipped my morning class and came to school that afternoon. I was in the biggest pinch I’d been in recently.
“W-Why?!!”
“You know,……, there’s no way they’ll allow you to change the competition you’re competing in two days in advance. You should have told me at least a week before.”
“………….”
I can’t reply to anything because he was so right!
Right now, I’m in the staff room asking Kirihara-sensei to change my entry in the ball game tournament from soccer to basketball.
I promised Suika that I was going to show her how I play basketball at the ball game. I am embarrassed to say it myself, but according to Okai-san, I am the person of Suika’s dreams.
I can’t remember what I was thinking and how I was playing basketball back then, but I was hoping to influence Suika in a positive way, even if only a little.
However, the result is as you can see.
After all that dressing up,
─ ─ I’ll make Suika remember the joy of basketball once again.
What is the matter with me that I dared to say that, but I can’t participate in the basketball itself?
It’s not good. ……
No matter how you look at it, it’s not good. Eh, if I don’t do this, I’ll have to tell Suika how fun it is to play basketball in soccer, won’t I? It’s too impossible.
If it was about the fun of sports, I could manage, but I said basketball, right?
What should I do? …….
My lack of a plan is being exposed here.
“Can’t we do something……?”
“Impossible.”
“Look, it’s like the usual.”
You’re talking about the smell of romantic comedy!
I hate to say it myself so much!
“Usual? What are you talking about?”
There was nothing I could do about it. Why is that so only this time!
“In the first place, the number of people is already fixed. If Ito leaves that competition, who will fill the vacancy? How can you make such a request after you skipped today?”
“Ugh, that’s ……”
“It seems you need to be punished. I’m going to ask you to clean up the reference room today.”
“……”
Seriously. The Goddess of Fortune is not smiling on me. The Mummies have turned into mummies.
◆
“No, seriously, what am I going to do?”
It was after school and I was in the classroom with my head in my hands. The fact that I had to go to the reference room after this to organize and clean it, as the teacher had instructed me to do, also accelerated my depression.
This is not the time to be doing such things.
I had to get to the basketball game as soon as possible
“Oooh, let’s go home, you skippers.”
“What is it, Sasaoka…?”
I don’t expect him, who called out to me, to come up with any strange ideas.
“What do you mean by that!? I came all the way here to ask you out!”
“I’m sorry, but I’m busy. I don’t have time to deal with you.”
“Don’t be so lame. Why are you holding your head in your hands? If you have something on your mind, why don’t you tell me? If it’s now, just introduce me to a girl and I’ll talk to you about it! Please!”
Why are you so eager to be consulted? I can’t fulfill that wish, but I might as well ask for advice anyway. It’s nonsense to keep it to myself after I told Suika. Although I don’t have any expectations.
“No, I want to change the event of the ball game tournament from soccer to basketball, but Kirihara sensei has rejected it…I wonder what I should do.”
“I see~. I guess it’s okay if you change your mind with someone else.”
“………..”
Why didn’t I think of something so obvious? Maybe my head was full of being told it was impossible.
As he said, if you get someone to change, the hole that the teacher said would be filled. I had completely underestimated him
“A genius, huh?”
“Right?”
He smirks at me. Normally, his laugh would irritate me, but today, for some reason, he seems more dependable.
He is someone who might change afterwards, though. ……
I look at him in front of me.
“What, are you in love with me?”
“Don’t be creepy. I mean, Sasaoka, you played basketball, right?”
“Oh yeah!”
I have a glimmer of hope! Did he possibly know that I was having trouble with that, and he was calling out to me? I knew he is a really nice guy.
“Maybe you’ll change your mind with me?”
“No.”
“…..”
But my hopes were easily dashed. I want my hopes dashed.
“May I ask why?”
“Nah, of course it’s to show them how cool I am here and become irresistible!”
This guy ……!
“But, you know, soccer is cool, too, right? If you’re good at that, you’ll be popular with the ladies, right?”
“No!”
“Why are you so stubborn?!”
“Because basketball is smaller, more confined, and more popular.”
“……”
This guy ……. In a way, I am impressed. He never wavers at all. The word “consistency” may be for this guy.
“Haaaa I understand ……. I give up.”
If he is that committed to this competition, there’s no way around it.
“Well, don’t get discouraged, my friend.”
“Thanks. You’re the one who turned me down.”
“Wait a minute. You can still get someone else to do it, can’t you?”
“Yeah, but …… I don’t know who else is a basketball player. ……”
“I’ll take care of it! him!”
Saying this, Sasaoka points to a group of three boys talking by the window.
“Sakai is going to be on the basketball team. He’s on the same team as me. He was on the team as an extra, so I’m sure he doesn’t have that much of an attachment to it. Go negotiate with him.”
“Oh, thank you!”
When he refused, I wondered what I should do, but Sasaoka also gives me useful information from time to time.
I must revise my evaluation of him…… .
“You can thank me by introducing me to girls!”
I knew I shouldn’t revise it.
I leave my seat and approach the student called Sakai.
As I approached them while they were chatting, Sakai and the others stopped talking and looked at me curiously.
“Sakai, can I have a word with you?”
“Whoa, what’s up transfer student?”
Sakai had dyed his hair brown, and his tone of voice was casual, giving me the impression that he was somewhat flirtatious.
But, in spite of this, he seems to be quite serious and does not look as bad as he looks.
And he still calls me “transfer student.”
“Please stop calling me ‘transfer student’”
“Sorry, sorry! So, what can I do for you?”
“Uh, well, about the ball game tournament, ……, can you switch the sport you’re competing in with me?”
“Ito, you’re in soccer, right? I don’t mind, though…..”
Okay! I strike a gut-punch in my heart. But I quickly realize that I’m jumping to a premature conclusion.
“But there’s a condition.”
“Condition ……?”
The world doesn’t work that way. All right, give and take.
“Yes! Is Ito dating Fujibayashi-san?”
“Fujibayashi…… that Fujibayashi?”
I think of the silver-haired gal.
Why are we talking about that?
“Why? We’re not dating at all.”
“Okay! No, because Ito and Fujibayashi-san are close!”
When I denied it, Sakai was plainly pleased.
“We’re not really close, though.”
“You’re lying! It’s only Ito that Fujibayashi-san talks to.”
…Really? I don’t think that’s the case at all. Lately, I feel like I’ve been talking to Yuri and the others.
So, what’s up with this Fujibayashi?
“Please do me a favor! Please, please arrange for her to give me her contact information!”
Sakai clasped his hands together in supplication. His face was serious.
“…. contact information, why again?”
“Of course it’s because I like her! Don’t make me say it!”
I had never told anyone that I liked them in such a straightforward manner, so I was taken aback.
It’s amazing to be able to say that so directly.
I wondered if he wasn’t embarrassed, but his ears were slightly red.
“Yes, yes. Ito, I’m counting on you!”
“He hasn’t had a girlfriend for a long time.”
“He was talking about Fujibayashi-san even now, wasn’t he?”
“Oh, you guys, stop it!”
And the two boys who were around – Miyano and Masui – also fired back with covering fire.
Sakai’s face turned even redder.
You are good friends, aren’t you? Well, anyway, if that’s the deal, I don’t have a choice. There was no reason for me to refuse.
“I understand. But if Fujibayashi says she doesn’t want to do it, just give up, okay?”
“Yeah, that’s fine! I won’t ask you to change it back to the way it was!”
“Then it’s settled.”
A deal was struck between me and Sakai.
After that, I reported to Sasaoka that it went well, and we parted ways, saying that I had some cleanup work to do in the reference room.
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