Episode 31 – First day of practice

So, I ended up being assigned to the basketball team for the sports festival.

…I’m feeling pretty down about it right now. But if I slack off now, I’ll just end up standing out for the wrong reasons.

At the very least, I need to get my middle school-level instincts back.

The sports festival is in two weeks. I need to practice as much as I can until then.

If I drag my feet and end up losing, I have no idea what Sena will do to me.

And the next day in the homeroom.

Luckily, we were able to rent the gym, so we immediately started practicing basketball.

“Nice to meet you, Ayata. Let’s do our best.”

Before practice started, Nakajima kun, who agreed to be the captain, spoke kindly to me.

At least I was relieved that my teammates weren’t the type to criticize me as “clumsy.” Of course, I understand that I’m the worst at this, but it’s still painful to hear it said out loud.  

◇◇◇  

After about thirty minutes of basic drills like passing and shooting, the first practice ended.  

…It seems I’ve forgotten more than I thought about the old feel for the game. Passing and dribbling are still manageable, but my shots barely go in at all.

I’ll have to work really hard if I want to improve.

I was sweating profusely, and I wiped the sweat from my brow with a towel as I looked around the gym.

“…”

I couldn’t help but notice Fujisaki.

The girls were going to practice a little longer before going home. I’m pretty sure it was Sena who suggested it.

Fujisaki was holding the ball and taking a long shot. A pleasant “sploosh” sound echoed.

…It feels nostalgic, I think. Back in middle school, I used to get lost in watching Fujisaki play basketball like this.

“Hey, Akito ! Good job on the practice !”

Suddenly, Hideki slapped me on the back.

“Sorry for leaving the basketball to you. But I still think you’re the best outside of the basketball club in our class. I was convinced after watching the practice earlier.”  

“Thanks.”  

When I replied half-heartedly, Hideki smiled slyly and said,  

“What’s up, Akito? Were you mesmerized by Renka’s gym uniform?”  

“…Well, something like that.”

Fujisaki Renka is an absolutely stunning beauty. Not only her appearance, but her figure is also impeccably beautiful.

There was a certain dangerous charm to her gym uniform. Perhaps due to the sweat, the fabric clinging to her skin had an oddly seductive quality. ….Wait, her underwear is completely visible, isn’t it?

“Hey, deny it, Akito…”

“But it’s Fujisaki. And I’m a guy, so it’s impossible not to be mesmerized.”  

“That may be true, but…! When you take that attitude, it makes me feel kind of uncomfortable…”  

Hideki held his head in his hands.  

I continued to watch Fujisaki with my eyes,  

“Anyway, Fujisaki really suits a ponytail, doesn’t she?”

That’s right. She’s currently wearing her flaxen hair in a ponytail instead of her usual half-up style.  

Faced with this rare sight, I can’t resist my male desires. The glimpse of her nape, the armpits and undershirt visible through the gaps in her gym uniform, and her well-shaped breasts swaying with her movements. Yes, it’s truly a feast for the eyes.

“…You know, you should say that in front of Renka.”  

“No way. It’d be too cruel to Fujisaki if I said that to her.”  

“Right, right. Because Reka hates you, doesn’t she?”  

He emphasizes it deliberately. …Well, it’s true, so there’s nothing I can do about it, and I don’t really care.

“Hey, Akito. You haven’t completely lost interest in Renka, have you? I thought you didn’t even want to see her face anymore.”  

“That’s not what we’re talking about. Fujisaki and I just decided to keep our distance for each other’s sake. We’re not fighting or anything.”  

“….You say that, but how was it really before?”

His voice was clearly lower than before.

Hideki ruffled his hair and continued speaking.

“To be honest, we’ve been worried about it for a while. We were worried that Akito was getting hurt by Renka’s cold attitude. But you didn’t seem to care at all, did you? So we decided not to say anything about Renka’s attitude.”

“…What the hell? You guys were thinking that?”

“Well, we do call ourselves your best friends, after all. But Renka is also our important childhood friend and, of course, our best friend. So we wanted Renka to be her true self—but we never thought it would turn out like this. …Akito, I’m really sorry.”

Still…Hideki is a good guy.  

I think the definition of “best friend” varies from person to person. I think it’s wonderful to have a relationship where you can point out each other’s flaws, but Hideki probably thinks the opposite.  

A relationship where you accept and acknowledge both the good and the bad—that might be Hideki’s idea of a best friend.  

Hideki’s kindness felt incredibly warm to me right now.

“You don’t need to apologize, Hideki. At least, it’s definitely not your fault. …Anyway, I think Renka and I were bound to end up like this someday.”

“Akito. Are you…satisfied with that?”

“Well, yeah. Think about it. I’m in the same class as the most beautiful girl in school, and I even got to sit next to her. Even now, I can look at Fujisaki’s gym uniform like this. For a guy, there’s no greater happiness than this.”  

“…Haha. Well, if you say so, then that’s fine.”  

Hideki tapped me on the shoulder.

Then he simply said, “Let’s go back to class.”  

I took one last look at Fujisaki in her gym uniform.  

Her cuteness was undeniable, but her profile as she played basketball seriously was irresistibly charming.  

(Well…Fujisaki is such a kind person. She’s probably thinking about letting Sena win.)

Thinking about it that way—I don’t know why.  

I felt a slight twinge in my heart.  

It felt like I had accidentally reopened the wound of a broken heart. …No matter what, I’d be shocked if Fujisaki got a boyfriend. I need to forget my feelings for her before that happens.  

“Hey, Hideki. Do you have any female friends who like me?”

As we walked along the corridor connecting the gymnasium to the school building, I casually asked Hideki. Then,

“…Hey, Akito. Don’t you dare say that in front of Renka or Sena, okay?”

Hideki let out a sigh that was so exaggerated it was obvious.

He then stuck his hand in his uniform pocket and said,

“—–Well, there is one, though.”

“Eh !? Really? Would you introduce me to her…?”  

“No way. Besides, there’s no way I’m introducing you.”  

What does that mean? Is it some kind of trick question?  

In the end, I couldn’t figure it out. Maybe he was just teasing me.  

If there really are girls who like a background character like me, I’d be surprised myself.  

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