Volume 3 - CH 11

When I entered high school, I decided to become the manager of the soccer club.

The deciding factor for joining the club was, of course, Yuu-kun chose the soccer club.

Well, I had played soccer until elementary school, and I had some knowledge of the sport, so I thought I could at least support the team, even though I could no longer play.

When I actually joined the club, I was surprised to find that the practices were so random.

I knew that the school did not put much effort into athletic activities, but the coach was Heike-sensei, an English teacher with no experience in soccer, and the older students seemed to have given up on the idea of practicing in various ways.

So I decided to study overseas training methods and the latest training techniques and propose them as a training plan to Heike-sensei. When the teacher saw what was in the plan, he said, “Let’s start using this practice plan today,” and presented it to the club members.

Most of the club members were perplexed when they heard the announcement, and some even quit the club because they were fed up with the suddenly stricter practices. It was very distressing to think that the atmosphere in the club had deteriorated because of the practice plan I had proposed.

Feeling responsible for creating such a situation, I spent my days completely behind the scenes during club activities, doing miscellaneous tasks, when Yuu-kun called me to the bench behind the club room to talk to me.

“What are you depressed about? The practice plan that Kanade made. It’s really great. Even though I practice less than when I was in junior high school, I can see that I’m improving my skills so efficiently.”

Yuu-kun was watching me.

Yuu-kun was worried about me.

And Yuu-kun praised my practice plan.

“I’m sad to see some of the members quit, but the ones who are here now think the practice plan you made is great, and they’re really working on it. So you should have confidence in us. If we get stronger, the biggest contributor will be Kanade, okay?”

I was so happy that my tears started to spill.

I really wanted to hug him with all my strength, but Yuu-kun has Hazuki-chan, and I would only get him into trouble, so I tried my best to hold back.

“Un. Thank you, Yuu-kun. I thought I was selfish and that everyone would hate me, so you really saved my life. Thank you for everything.”

I cried and showed Yuu-kun the biggest smile I could muster. He blushed and said, “Well, that’s what I’m saying, so cheer up,” I couldn’t help but make fun of him, but this atmosphere was really comfortable for me and made me feel happy.

———

When I moved up to the second grade, not much change occurred in my life.

If I had a boyfriend, for example, my life might have changed in various ways. However, I couldn’t think of having a relationship with a boy other than Yuu-kun that was more than just friends.

Yes, because I was still very much in love with Yuu-kun.

To be honest, I can’t imagine those two breaking up at all, but I can’t help it, because there was no man I could think of who was better than Yuu-kun.

I know that I can’t go on like this forever, but I’m still in love with Yuu-kun, and I want him to let me stay that way, without wishing it on anyone.

However, things started to change a little around the summer of my sophomore year.

It was that Kouki-kun, who had moved to another prefecture upon graduation from junior high school, was coming back here.

I was really happy when Yuu-kun said to me, “Kouki is coming back, so let’s play together for the first time in a while.” Because since I became a high school student, I had been spending most of my weekends and holidays with Hazuki-chan, and I rarely had a chance to hang out with Yuu-kun outside of school and club activities.

So when Yuu-kun asked me to hang out with him, I had no reason to refuse.

(Woohoo. I’m too excited …… to be able to play with Yuu-kun for the first time in a while)

Actually, it was not just Yuu-kun and me, but also Hazuki-chan and Kouki-kun, but that was a trivial matter to me.

———

The day came when the four of us, including Kouki-kun, gathered to play together for the first time in a while.

Kouki-kun, who had not been seen in a while, was taller and more handsome than before, but he seemed to have improved even more.

However, what bothered me a little was that Hazuki-chan was a little nervous. I wondered if she was shy because she hadn’t seen him in a while. Hazuki-chan always seems so calm and collected, but she has a tendency to be a bit timid.

I thought that she would get used to things after playing together, so I didn’t pay much attention to her.

Thinking back, if I had been paying attention to Hazuki-chan and Kouki-kun, perhaps they would not have hurt Yuu-kun.

———

One day, about seven months after the four of us started playing together.

The four of us were playing in Yuu-kun’s room, and I really wanted to eat a limited edition of 20 roll cakes made by a local pastry store for a snack, so I asked Hazuki-chan and Kouki-kun to stay at home and went out to buy some with Yuu-kun.

Just as we were thinking that we would have enough time to buy the cakes, Yuu-kun made a troubling remark that he had forgotten his wallet.

We frantically walked back to Yuu-kun’s house and opened the door to get his wallet, when we heard a loud slamming sound coming from Yuu-kun’s room.

We looked at each other, and when Yuu-kun opened the door to his room, we saw the two of them looking panicked.

(Huh? Aren’t these two acting strange? Why are Hazuki-chan’s clothes a bit disheveled?)

The two of them said something like they were having a big catch because there were bugs, but I thought that was a lie no matter how I thought about it. Yuu-kun seems to have put his absolute trust in Hazuki-chan and believed her words, but no matter how many times I thought about it, something strange was strange.

I wondered if I should tell Yuu-kun this…

I couldn’t come to that conclusion right away and kept it to myself for a few days to figure out what to do.

But if my bad premonition was right, Yuu-kun would be deceived by those two.

There was no way I could overlook such a thing.

So, I suggested to Yuu-kun that we set up a surveillance camera to find out what those two were up to.

At first, Yuu-kun hesitated, but when I told him that we should clear things up to clear up the confusion, he nodded his head in agreement.

———

I am trying to show Yuu-kun something cruel.

Perhaps that’s the kind of relationship those two have. Otherwise, I can’t explain the discomfort.

If that is the case, the surveillance camera should have caught Yuu-kun’s most cherished lover and his old best friend having sex.

However, since I knew that they would never go all the way to the end in his room, I assumed that they would probably just kiss and touch each other’s bodies.

However, the result was more wild sex than I had imagined.

After being exposed to such a scene, Yuu-kun became nauseous and went into the bathroom, where he remained until the end.

Along with my anger at having been exposed to such terrible images, I felt deep regret that I had caused Yuu-kun irreparable damage by my suggestion.

Couldn’t there have been a better way to expose their infidelity without hurting Yuu-kun?

I felt frustrated at my stupidity, which was so shallow.

But what had already happened could not be reversed.

There was nothing I could do about it, even if I was pessimistic.

Then what the hell was I supposed to do?

Shouldn’t I be there for Yuu-kun, who was deeply hurt, supporting him and helping him?

I promised myself.

I would protect Yuu-kun.

I will never allow anyone to hurt Yuu-kun anymore.