Episode 31 – Friend A’s past and the young lady’s secret
Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818093087122434729/episodes/16818622175471846355
There was still a little time before school started. I said goodbye to Shiramine, put my things in my classroom, and headed for the playground.
I wanted to watch the soccer club’s morning practice for a little while.
“Hey, Aota.”
“Oh, Ren. What’s up? Joining the morning practice?”
He must have finished running. There was sweat on his forehead.
“No way. I don’t want to do something that smelly. My goal is to be popular. That’s me.”
“But you’ve been shy since middle school.”
“Shut up.”
After exchanging the usual banter, I decided to get to the point.
“Hey, Aota. How are things with Nishimiya lately?”
“What? Out of the blue?”
“Come on, you don’t have to hide it. We’re friends, right?”
Of course! That’s a lie! I know full well that Aota isn’t dating Nishimiya.
But asking him this way is the easiest way to gauge the relationship between Nishimiya and Aota.
“Huh? What are you talking about?”
He looked confused. It seems Aota doesn’t know much about Nishimiya either.
“Oh, was I wrong? Sorry, I guess I misunderstood.”
“It’s fine, but why the sudden change?”
“Well, you know. At last year’s cultural festival, you and Nishimiya seemed to be getting along well, so I was wondering if there had been any progress since then.”
I think it was the second day of the cultural festival. I happened to see them talking amiably in an empty classroom.
“Oh, no way. You…”
“Huh?”
“No, I’m rooting for you. I am. Ren, you’ll be fine. You’re considerate, and your face… well, you’re cool.”
What is this guy? Just because he is a little… no, quite handsome…
As jealousy began to boil up inside me, Aota smiled softly.
It was a refreshing smile.
“But you know, I’m relieved. Since you quit soccer, you’ve looked a little rough.”
“…Is that so?”
I hadn’t told anyone about my injury, not even Aota. Yet this guy…
“How’s the team?”
“Hmm, it’s going well. The first-years are all pretty good…”
“Aota-san, who is that person?”
Aota’s words were interrupted. A boy walked over from the field.
He had curly natural hair and a slightly innocent look about him.
“Oh, Taito. This is Hayami. Hayami Ren.”
“Huh, this guy?”
His gaze shifted sideways and landed on me. He had a rather cocky look in his eyes.
“Ren. This is…”
“No, I can introduce myself.
I’m… Amagami Taito. I used to play as a midfielder for Tokyo Vidi FC.”
“…Really?”
Tokyo Vidi. The strongest professional club in Japan. And bearing that name means he’s from their youth academy.
In other words.
“Wow, a soccer elite. Why is someone like that at our high school?”
Generally, such players tend to go to high schools affiliated with clubs.
“Because of this person. Hasegawa Aota. Former junior national team member, number 11.”
“I see, that makes sense.”
Of course, playing with Aota would make him much better. Aota is that kind of player.
“Well, I’ll be going now. Aota, work hard at morning practice.”
In the end, I didn’t get any information about Nishimiya. …Well, I was just a little curious, so it’s fine…
It was the moment I turned my back.
“—National team. Why did you refuse the call-up back then, Hayami-san?”
“Hey! Taito!”
“Aota san, shut up! I don’t like it! I don’t want to be treated like your replacement!”
Wow, this is heavy. This guy… Wait, how does he know that? Yeah.
“Calm down, okay?”
“You quit soccer…”
“Taito, cut it out.”
Aota grabbed Amagami’s collar in a fit of rage.
“…Alright, I understand. Can you let go? Aota-san.”
Even Amagami seemed intimidated, exhaling deeply before looking away.
“Well, see you later, Aota.”
What a stubborn guy, I thought to myself as I headed back to the classroom.
＊＊＊
In the backroom of the convenience store, I took off my uniform and quickly changed into my blazer.
“Thanks, Nishimiya-chan. Going to school now?”
“Yes.”
The voice came from a part-time worker.
“That’s tough… Oh, right. You can take this with you.”
The woman picked up two loaves of bread from the disposal box and handed them to me.
“Is that okay? Can I really take them?”
“Don’t tell the manager, okay? Hehehe.”
Saying that, the woman returned to the register.
I put the bread with the 50-yen discount sticker on it into my bag.
Honestly, it’s a huge help. Unfortunately, I don’t have much money right now. Or rather, I can’t use it.
Because
“I have to go to next week’s flea market, no matter what.”
That’s right. Self-restraint is an act performed for a purpose.
I leave the backroom. The morning sun stings my retinas. It’s not so much bright as it is annoying.
“Haa.”
At the same time as the sigh, my smartphone in my pocket vibrated.
The display read, “Father.” Just one word.
“I really wish you’d stop already.”
I pressed the power button twice and put it back in my bag.
And so, I headed off to school as usual today.
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