Episode 9 – 1st year . June 2

How did this happen !

I was at a karaoke bar, in front of my classmates. I was clutching the microphone, dripping with cold sweat.

There are about 15 people in this room, but the only one I can say is on my side is Kumagai san.

The rest are Saki, Matsukubo Takuma, and the bastard from the basketball club, Enomoto Takashi, Ohori Naoyuki, a member of the soccer team, and the rest are people I’ve almost never talked to before.

I was a complete stray. Today we had a sports festival.

Our school’s sports festival is mainly an inter-class competition. There are 100 meters, 400 meters, steeplechase, scavenger hunt, 1500 meters, and there was a 100 meter x 4 relay,each student participated in only one event, and we competed for the total points in our class.

And our class won ! Actually not, we were halfway through the year, coming in fifth,

I came in first in the 1500 meters race.

Only about half the class was happy about it. After the sports festival, there was a party set up, and it was at this karaoke bar.

I didn’t want to go, but they insisted that I come because I was the one who had done something good.I was dragged in.

Well, Sudo, Kioka, and Kumagai san were there ! I thought,

But there was no room for nearly 30 people, so we were split into two rooms,

when I drew the lottery, I lost……

Oh my God !

I decided to sit quietly at the end of the room and wait for the time to pass by.

At first, Matsukubo Takuma grabbed the microphone and smiled.

Some of the girls cheered.

And when he tried singing, it turned out to be really good.

He was so much better than the guys I’ve been singing karaoke with.

I heard that Matsukubo is in the light music club with Saki,

He was immediately hired as the lead singer by his senior.

Indeed, his voice has a sheen to it, and his high notes are perfect,

and his pose while singing and smiling were perfect.

The girls were cheering for him all the time.

But when Matsukubo finished singing, he sat down next to Saki,

She hugged Saki’s shoulder, and they looked at each other with a smile,

The girls immediately lost interest in Matsukubo.

Enomoto was next, followed by Ohori.

These two were active in the sports festival and seemed to be very fashionable,

Besides, they sang fairly well, so some girls were flocking to them.

Next, Saki took the microphone.

Saki was in the chorus of a band with Matsukubo.

They had once come together to sing karaoke together, and she was really good at it, handling the upper register at will.

Today, she sang a song about love, looking at Matsukubo the whole time.

I was so frustrated and disappointed that I couldn’t see straight.

Everyone sang one song at a time, and then it was Kumagai san’s turn.

Kumagai san was as good as Saki,

but her voice was not as loud and her expression was a little dark.

I thought she was very good, but then I suddenly looked at Saki,

She and Matsukubo were staring at each other and kissing repeatedly.

I was so frustrated and disappointed that my eyes went blank again.

There must be one in 10,000 guys who can combine Matsukubo’s good looks and singing ability, or even more.

I think I beat Matsukubo in the midterms and at the sports festival,

But I had to remind myself that in terms of rarity, I was an R at best, and Matsukubo was an SSR.

And finally, it was my turn.

I did my best to sing a song that would get the crowd excited.

But I was bad at singing.

However.

“Gyahahaha !”

“You’re too good ! You’re too good at making people laugh !”

Enomoto and Ohbori laughed at me.

It wasn’t a laugh-out-loud tease at all, though, so there weren’t any guys who sympathized with me.

By the way, Saki and Matsukubo didn’t care about me and were making out.

Furthermore, by the way, Kumagai san had Enomoto and Ohori sitting on both sides,

She was getting smaller.

After I finished singing, a class member came from the next room.

“Okay, let’s change rooms~. Draw the lottery again!”

I drew lots and ended up in the same room as Saki, Matsukubo, Enomoto, and Ohori again.

I can’t.

I can’t do this anymore.

My heart was broken,

I told Sudo, who was about to enter the next room, [I’m going home first.] And was about to leave.

“I’m leaving with you !”

Kumagai san was picking at the sleeve of my shirt.

“Ah, Kumagai san was also in the same room as me. Well then, let’s go home.”

“You damn introvert, just go home !”

“Ouch !”

Enomoto shouted angrily, kicked me in the ass, and I fell forward.

“Kumagai, stay until the end. I’ll walk you home.”

“No, we’ll take you home together～.”

Enomoto and Ohori forcibly held Kumagai san’s shoulders, who was reluctant to do so.

My fighting spirit has come back to life.

“Excuse me~!”

I shouted loudly, glaring at Enomoto and the others, and the staff flew in.

“What’s wrong?”

The staff seemed to notice the struggle and turned a suspicious eye toward Enomoto and Ohori.

Staff san, good job !

Kumagai san slipped away from Enomoto and Ohori, who flinched a little.

I asked the staff aloud.

“We just wanna go home first, is that okay?”

“It’s fine~!”

“Thank you very much ! Then, let’s go !”

While the staff’s eyes were shining, I grabbed Kumagai san’s hand and ran away.

“Good grief.”

I walked for a while, and when I stopped, I still muttered this line.

“We’ve done this before, haven’t we !”

I heard Kumagai san’s bouncy voice and finally realized that I was holding her hand,

I hurriedly let go of her hand.

“Again ! Sorry.”

“No. Thank you for saving me.”

As we looked at each other, loud footsteps approached.

“You damn introvert ! Don’t screw with me !”

An enraged Enomoto was chasing after us.

“You’re persistent. Don’t you realize Kumagai san hates you?”

“……..Are you guys dating?”

“No. I’m a damn introvert, so it’s impossible, right?”

Enomoto took a puff of air in response to my response and smiled belligerently.

“Well, I don’t care either way. I’m still gonna beat the shit out of you.”

As he finished, Enomoto whirled his right arm in a threatening manner.

I had started recording on my phone and handed the phone to Kumagai san.

“I’m recording, so you might wanna stop.”

“Hmph ! All I have to do is beat you up and take that phone away from you, right?”

Enomoto was grinning. He was full of confidence.

Our school is a vocational school, after all, so there shouldn’t be anyone that vicious…

I had never been in a fight before, but it was nothing compared to facing someone in the ring.

Although he seemed a little surprised since I wasn’t scared,

Enomoto came up to me randomly and threw a big right hook.

I blocked the right hook with my left arm and slammed my right fist into Enomoto’s body, small and sharp.

“Ogee～.”

Enomoto’s body was bent over, 

Enomoto was on his knees, vomiting.

“Don’t let this get the better of you, and don’t come near us again.”

I said coldly and urged Kumagai san to walk towards the station.

Extreme ! Did I look cool?

“Thanks. You’re strong, aren’t you?”

Kumagai san whispered in my ear so that Enomoto would not hear.

That tickled me ! She thanked me and complimented me, making me feel aggravated !

“That guy was just looking down at me.”

I glanced at him humbly, and Kumagai san looked at me with respect~!

Ugh~!

“You were so relaxed, are you used to fighting?”

“I’ve never been in a fight before, but I’m learning martial arts.

I only do exercise/boxing once a week…”

“Exercise?”

“Yeah. I’m not looking for fights or professional fights.

Well, sometimes I spar with the best, and they beat me to a pulp.”

“Eh～, doesn’t that hurt?”

“It hurts, but I wear headgear and stuff.”

“That’s amazing, you protected me again.”

I managed to crack a joke, since she was talking as if the favor was a burden.

“…..Then, how about I treat you Hagen again?”

“The opposite ! I’ll treat you !”

“Yeah, it’s a pleasure.”

Kumagai san and I smiled at each other, and I knew we had had a good day.