Chapter 20: The Girls Around Me
The words that came from Airi-senpai's mouth were shocking—she said she broke up with Sahori-senpai.
It's got nothing to do with me... but when a girl in front of you looks like she's about to cry and wants someone to listen, a guy's only option is to shut up and listen.
"...I'll listen to your story, okay?"
Airi: "...Are you sure? I want someone to listen... No, sorry, I brought it up myself because I wanted you to hear it."
Airi-senpai's expression was different from usual, a sad look on her face.
But talking in the gymnasium isn't good—someone will walk by at any moment.
I suggest we change locations.
Being seen is a problem, but being alone in a closed room with her scares me.
The gym storage room? Closed room!
Rooftop? Too hot!
Cafeteria? Too many eyes!
Café? Maybe a café is best!
We changed clothes and agreed to meet up at a coffee shop a little ways from school.
It's definitely not the time for shopping for the training camp anymore...
Airi: "Kousuke-kun, see you later!"
Airi-senpai waves her hand in front of the locker room.
She's forcing a smile.
"...Okay."
Waving back seems weird, so I just nod.
...And of course, Nagase Aya saw everything.
I keep my usual blank face and pretend not to notice.
Nagase-san comes closer, her face wearing a gentle smile but her eyes definitely not smiling,
Nagase: "You've gotten pretty close with the girls lately, huh?"
No, no,
"...That's not true."
Nagase-san takes a step closer, twisting her mouth into a frown,
Nagase: "Um... Tomonaga-san, was it? And Airi-senpai too? Kousuke-kun...?"
Nagase-san is one of the cutest girls in our year. Her face is so close...!
My heart pounds and, more than that, I get this unpleasant feeling like my heart's been grabbed!
I take two steps back... or rather, I end up stepping back.
Nagase-san looks hurt, but she notices something's off about me.
Nagase: "...That's harsh...? Huh? Kousuke-kun? Are you okay? Your face is totally pale!"
In a panic, Nagase-san grabs my arm—uh, can you let go for now?
"...I'm just... not feeling too well, maybe? I'll just grab some tea and head home... I'm fine."
Nagase-san still looks worried,
"...Guys don't want girls to see them looking weak, you know."
When I say that, her expression brightens up in an instant,
Nagase: "So, you do see me as a girl..."
She mutters that under her breath, then waves and smiles, telling me to take care before heading home.
Am I... afraid of girls?
My heart is pounding and I'm out of breath...!
I'm starting to get worried about myself.
To Tomonaga-san,
"...Well, I have something to do today..."
Tomonaga: "Eh?! What about me? Today?"
Tomonaga-san's eyes sparkle, hoping for a free afternoon.
I point toward the film club with my finger—see, your ride is here?
The film club members and my best friend Tanaka-kun are watching us from over there?
Tomonaga: "...Eek! The captain again!!"
Tomonaga-san has started calling Tanaka-kun the captain lately. Wasn't Billy-san the captain?
Tanaka-kun approaches, spinning his arms low to the ground!
Tanaka: "Here we go!! Na-na-naa! Na-na-naa! Juliet! Diet! Seh!"
Tomonaga: "Eek!!"
It's Joyman! If it were Sho—
Sho: "What's up with this guy!"
—he'd probably go along with it.
With that in mind, I saw Tomonaga-san off.
Looks like it's Joyman exercise from today on.
☆ ☆ ☆
I wipe off my sweat and tidy myself up a bit in the locker room, then head to the coffee shop where we're meeting.
Airi-senpai was already there and had gotten us a table.
The shop is about 70% full, and it smells like good coffee.
I order some kind of frappuccino for myself, grabbing a big biscuit too, and head over to Airi-senpai.
Airi-senpai is sitting at an out-of-the-way corner seat, sipping a drink so loaded with toppings it's practically a parfait.
Airi: "So, let's exchange addresses first, okay? It's fine! I'm single! Super single!"
"Single" is one thing, but "super single" sounds like that club from that one sexual incident, right? Girls shouldn't say that!
Airi-senpai counts off the reasons for exchanging on her fingers.
Airi: "We're club upperclassman and underclassman, right? For the shopping and stuff, right? And you and I, Kousuke-kun, we're like mentor and apprentice, right?"
Well, that's true.
When I joined as a beginner, Airi-senpai was the first senpai to look out for me.
Even now, I still ask Airi-senpai for advice on training methods, focus points, and routines.
Airi: "Aaaand, isn't 'because you're a favorite underclassman' a good enough reason too?"
She flashes a dazzling Airi-smile that charms all the boys in the basketball club.
My heart skips a beat and I get chills at the same time.
Well, I get her reasons.
But for some reason I feel guilty... still, I...
No, things will change if I move forward!
I exchanged addresses with Airi-senpai.
We quickly discussed tomorrow's meeting time, place, and what to buy.
I figured I'd probably remember more things or need to add stuff later, so I typed most of it into my phone.
Airi: "...Oh, my drink's gone. How about you, Kousuke-kun?"
We stood in line together at the register to order, and there were lots of other couples—guys and girls snuggled up together—around us.
I wonder if we look like that too?
If so, I'd be honored... but the fluttery and uneasy feelings are way stronger than any excitement.
Airi: "...Hmm, then I'll change it up... Chip Excellent Chocolate Sauce Classic Extra Soy White Mocha Extra Black Cream Frappuccino."
?!
What? A magic spell?
Clerk: "Let me repeat your order—Chip Excellent Chocolate Sauce Classic Extra Soy White Mocha Extra Black Hazelnut Cream Frappuccino. Is that correct?"
I really don't think I could handle working here.
All I heard was "hazelnut"...
Does it have both black and white in it? I have no idea, but it sounds sweet. I don't hate sweet things, but...
Airi: "How about you, Kousuke-kun?"
Kousuke: "...I'll have an iced coffee, black, not sweet."
Airi-senpai laughs out loud,
Airi: "Kousuke-kun! Of course black isn't sweet!"
She smiles mischievously, but I've had enough sweets for today.
Tomonaga-san too, but girls are basically made of sweets.
Then we take our drinks back to the table.
That parfait-like thing... isn't it kind of amazing?
And now, on to the main topic.
The story of Sahori-senpai and Airi-senpai. I'll skip the honorifics for now.
What I know is that Sahori, who was a year ahead of me, aggressively pursued Airi, who had just joined the basketball club as a manager, right? After the summer training camp, they started dating, and I heard this legend that they traumatized the basketball club members at the time with the whole "BSS (Boku ga Saki ni Suki datta no ni)" kink.
The current second-years heard about the couple forming and lamented in despair,
and then Airi-senpai went out of her way to explain it all to the club.
Everyone teared up at how earnest she was, but still burned with jealousy,
Airi explains, Sahori collapses!
Apparently, there was a rather tense era for a while.
Even so,
Second-year Sahori was kind of a bad boy and a handsome guy. Cheerful, goofy, and really pushy. He had plenty of flaws, but with his natural athleticism and sense, he was already the ace by then.
First-year Airi was the basketball club's idol and everyone's comfort. With her smile and her curvy figure, she was the school year's top crush, so they were treated like a "big couple!"—that's what I heard.
Well, it was all before I enrolled, so it's just secondhand stories.
I always thought of Sahori as a crazy ace who talked big but hated hard work, so I wondered why such a gorgeous senpai would go for a guy like that. But since I had Satsuki, I never really thought much about it.
Why is that? It has to be Sahori's fault, right?
Because he's selfish? Because he's all talk? Because he's sloppy? Because he's a womanizer?
Because he sucks up to upperclassmen but is harsh on juniors? Because he says he's 187cm but is clearly shorter than the new captain, who's 183cm?
Hmm? I can only assume Sahori got dumped...
Airi-senpai starts to speak, bit by bit, in a gentle voice.
☆ ☆ ☆
Yesterday, I finished work and came home.
I was wrapping up "Fell in Love with the Class President"—the main story, which was already about 70% done.
While writing Kousuke, totally exhausted, I accidentally deleted everything right when I was about to check it, so I just sulked and went to bed.
Sorry for neglecting updates.
Aru