Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818622176550308690/episodes/16818622177769062798
The midterm exam results were announced, and the next morning during homeroom,
class representative Sena stood in front of the teacher’s desk, folded her arms across her chest, and
“The sports festival is about to begin !”
…Announced energetically.
“Well, I’m sure everyone knows, but the sports festival will be held during the third week of June ! Our class will be competing against class A !”
Sports Festival.
Our school doesn’t use a round-robin format; instead, each class competes directly against another class.
And our class representative, Sena…
“We’re going to win ! We absolutely have to win ! So everyone, let’s give it our all ! !”
…is a fiery sports enthusiast who refuses to lose, as everyone acknowledges.
“So, today, let’s decide which events we’ll participate in! Hideki, you’re in charge of taking notes !”
“Sure, sure. As you wish.”
The other class representative, Hideki, sighed and turned to face the blackboard.
Hideki is also very athletic and probably just as competitive, but even he can’t help but shrink back in the face of Sena’s enthusiasm.
“As for the events, it seems we’ll be doing two again this year! One is mixed-gender dodgeball, just like last year! The other is gender-separated basketball ! The rule is that the team that wins two games wins !”
Basketball. That brings back memories.
Believe it or not, I was on the basketball team in middle school. …Well, it was for the impure motive of being on the same team as Fujisaki, but still.
“Anyway, how many people are in the basketball club? Sorry, but can you raise your hands?”
In response to Sena’s call, a few people raised their hands.
Four boys and three girls. Hideki writes their names on the blackboard.
“So, is it decided that these seven will play basketball? There won’t be any substitutes, so we need to decide on three more people.”
No substitutes? That’s pretty intense.
Well, that’s how sports tournaments go, I guess. I wonder what happens if someone has to leave mid-game or gets injured, but in that case, we can just ask someone from the dodgeball team to fill in. That would mean one person playing two games, but the only one who might criticize that as cheating is Sena.
“Then let’s decide on the girls first. …Oh, by the way, I’m playing ! Believe it or not, I’m good at basketball !”
Peace. Saying that, Sena smiled.
Believe it or not, all of her classmates probably thought, “I knew it.” No one said it out loud, though.
“So, one more person. What should we do? How should we decide?”
Sena asked her classmates, and a few seconds later, one of the girls raised her hand and said,
“How about Renka? I found out last year in PE class that she’s really good at basketball.”
“…Eh? M-me…?”
All eyes turned to the girl sitting next to me.
Fujisaki, who had been spacing out until then, tilted her head cutely in confusion.
“That’s right, Renka would be perfect ! Renka was in the basketball club in middle school, right?”
Sena looked at Fujisaki with a sunny smile.
Then Fujisaki looked down and said,
“…I’ll just slow everyone down.”
“That’s not true ! Right, everyone? You guys agree that Renka is the best choice, right?”
The classmates nodded in agreement.
This was an atmosphere where she couldn’t refuse even if she wanted to. I felt sorry for her in my heart.
Eventually, Fujisaki smiled awkwardly and said,
“…If that’s what you say, Sena, then fine. I’ll give it a try.”
“Really !? Hehe, you really are my best friend ! Then, the rest of us girls will do our best at dodgeball !”
Still, it was mixed-gender dodgeball.
I remember doing the same thing last year. The ball is soft, so there’s no risk of injury, and it was surprisingly exciting.
And above all, dodgeball requires a lot of people. So, as someone who doesn’t want to stand out, I really want to join the dodgeball team.
…Yeah, I’ll do my best to hide the fact that I used to be on the basketball team.
“Okay, next up are the boys ! Hey, Hideki, how are we going to decide?”
“Hmm, how should we do it…”
Hideki started to think about it, and right after that.
“Here !” Suzukita san raised her hand energetically and said,
“Ayatacchi, didn’t you say you were in the basketball club in middle school? If so, I’d like to see you play basketball !”
…This is bad. Three lines and I’m busted.
The gaze of my classmates suddenly turned toward me.
“…Just so you know, I’m not participating. I think Hideki, who has excellent athletic ability, is more suitable than me, who only played a little.”
“Sorry, my friend. I promised Kurita from Class A that I would take revenge in this year’s dodgeball game. I have to avenge last year’s humiliation !”
“Oh, is that so…?”
It’s been two years since I played basketball. Now that I’m completely out of shape, I’m sure Hideki is better than me.
But even if that weren’t the case, I just don’t want to do it. I definitely don’t want to play basketball in front of everyone. It’s embarrassing.
As if sensing my feelings, Senma looked around awkwardly and said,
“Um…by the way, is there anyone else besides Akito kun who has experience?”
But the entire class fell silent. …I guess everyone feels the same way. Some of them were sending me intense glances that seemed to say, “Please, be our scapegoat.”
But this is bad. If this continues, I’ll end up like Fujisaki with no way out.
Is there any insurance I can take out from here? Thinking that, I glanced at Suzukita-san,
“Please, Ayatacchi ! Show us your cool side ! Please?”
“…No, I’m sorry, Suzukita san, but I…”
“Ehh, no way ! I really want to see Ayatacchi play basketball ! !”
Faced with Suzukita san’s childish tantrum,
I couldn’t help but sigh.
In any case, even if I continued to refuse, no one else would step up to take my place.
Well, if I asked Hideki, he might agree, but I’ve always been the one to push these kinds of troublesome situations onto Hideki. This time, I don’t want to burden him unnecessarily. So,
“….Alright, I’ll do it. But I won’t take responsibility if we lose because of me, okay?”
A small cheer from my classmates.
I took a deep breath and forced myself to muster some enthusiasm.
At this point, there’s no choice but to do it. …Honestly, I really don’t want to, though.
–
–
If you enjoy our content, feel free to donate, Thank you in advance !