Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818093087122434729/episodes/16818622177138963928
The ball sinks like a roller coaster.
A slider. As the name suggests, it’s a breaking ball that slides like a slider.
Using my reflexes and intuition, I point my mitt toward the trajectory of the ball.
But…
“Ugh!”
As expected, I couldn’t catch it. The ball grazed the edge of the mitt and flew toward my chest protector.
For a moment, the impact took my breath away, and a dull pain echoed through my body.
“…Next. Please.”
“Hey, are you serious? Hayami?”
Streetlights cast their glow in the twilight between night and evening.
The only sound echoing across the park’s field was the clash of the mitt’s leather and the hard white ball.
Even the field, which was about the size of a soccer field, felt empty with only the two of us standing there.
“Hayami-senpai. I took a video, but is this okay?”
“Thanks, Koganei.”
I took off my mask and received the smartphone from Koganei on the other side of the fence.
“Can you catch it? That ball?”
“I’ll catch it. Otherwise, I’d feel bad for making you guys come along.”
“Hmm, you remind me of a senior from middle school.”
“No, no, that’s not true.”
Back then, I couldn’t see much of what was going on around me. It was like a dark chapter in my past.
“But, you know. Is it really necessary to go this far?”
“What?”
“It’s just a sports tournament. Even if we win, nothing will happen, and besides, we don’t even know if Aota-senpai will choose baseball, do we?”
“…Well, I guess so.”
Aota would probably choose soccer first.
And as for the other competition, if he’s the kind of person who can do anything, it wouldn’t be surprising if he chose anything.
“Even if Aota chooses baseball, there’s no guarantee that our Green Team will face the Red Team.”
“Yeah, that’s true.”
“But so what? Even if there’s a low chance of facing Aota, I don’t think we should just sit back and do nothing.”
In the sports festival, baseball is shortened to five innings due to time constraints.
So, even if we end up facing each other in the game, it’ll only be two at-bats at most.
But just knowing there’s a chance of that happening, I can’t help but do something.
“This time, I have to take it seriously.”
“…Huh, really?”
“So, I won’t hold back on the effort. Come on, let’s keep going. Itakura, are you ready?”
I handed my phone back to Koganei and returned to the field.
“Hey, Hayami. You’re a pretty passionate guy, aren’t you?”
“Well, I don’t think I’m passionate, but… I guess I am competitive.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
After practicing for about 30 minutes, we called it a day.
Simply because it was getting late and the ball was hard to see.
“Well, I’m heading home first!”
Itakura hopped on his bike parked at the edge of the park and rode off.
“Should we head home too?”
“Yeah.”
Koganei and I walked out of the park side by side. We continued through the residential area.
“Hayami-senpai, you’ve become more approachable lately, haven’t you?”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Since he became captain in his third year of middle school, his attitude has become softer and softer.”
“Hmm. I don’t really notice it.”
The charming appeal now… No, I won’t say any more. It’s embarrassing.
Well, even if I didn’t have the same atmosphere as now, I wasn’t harsh to people.
“You’ve definitely changed. …Ah, you were pretty popular in middle school, weren’t you?”
“Huh!?”
You’re lying! That’s not true! Then why has no one ever confessed their feelings to me?
“But, you seem more lively now… maybe?”
“Is that how it looks?”
“Well, yeah. You seem more relaxed, like a weight has been lifted.”
Koganei is truly amazing.
She always observes people closely, not just the people he likes, but also those around them.
“But is it okay for you to help me? I’m determined to beat Aota.”
“Huh? Sure, why not? Actually…”
Koganei laughed mockingly.
“Do you really think you can beat Aota-senpai?”
“…Guh.”
When she said it so bluntly, there was nothing I could do. I had no proof that I could win, and I had no confidence either.
“Well, just be Aota-senpai’s sidekick, Hayamin-senpai.”
Koganei chuckled and said that, then turned into an alley opposite mine.
“…Haa, effort, huh. It feels like I haven’t done that in a while.”
Since I started aspiring to be Friend A, I’ve always been holding back on something.
It could be emotions or effort.
Depending on the situation, I no longer sweat profusely while exercising or study frantically at my desk like I used to.
“…What am I doing?”
I intended to be a friend like A, but instead I’m making meaningless efforts and burning out in a way that’s unlike me.
“I’m so lame… Wait, what!?”
Suddenly, my vision went dark. A little later, I realized that I had been covered by a hand that was a size smaller than mine, reaching out from behind me.
“Who’s there?”
“…What are you doing, Shiramine-san?”
“Muu. You’re quick.”
Shiramine gently let go of my hand and moved around in front of me. One moment my vision was completely dark, and the next, a stunningly beautiful girl appeared in front of me. It was like magic.
“What are you doing here?”
“Mihoshi told me. You were practicing baseball, right? So I thought I’d at least make a delicious dinner and wait for you.”
With that, Shiramine shook the eco-bag she had hooked on her elbow.
“Haha… I appreciate it. But you didn’t have to go to all that trouble.”
“No, no, it’s no trouble at all. After all, you’re working so hard because of what I said…”
Shiramine’s expression clouded over a little.
“Did I bother you? Did you really hate it…?”
Her questioning words made my heart ache.
“Shiramine-san. To be honest, I’m not confident that I can beat Aota. Because he’s better than anyone else, and he can do anything easily.”
But even so.
“I’ll do my best. It may not look cool, but I’ll try my hardest.”
I decided to do that.
If I didn’t, I wouldn’t even be able to remain friends with A.
“Ren-senpai…”
“Huh!?”
Suddenly, Shiramine’s hand touched my cheek. I was so surprised that my face twitched and I let out a strange sound.
“Ren-senpai, you’re cool. Always.”
“No, no, that’s not…”
My heart raced up my esophagus and felt like it was about to fly away.
“Hehe, your face is bright red. You’re quite shy, aren’t you?”
Seeing me like that, Shiramine laughed teasingly.
“Well, yeah…”
If you’re praised by such a beautiful girl at close range, anyone would…
“Shall we go home, Senpai? Oh, shall we hold hands?”
“No, I’ll pass.”
And so, we walked home side by side.
Our steps were light, but our strides were small, and the atmosphere was both comfortable and embarrassing.
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