CH 22

After the lunch break, the afternoon session of the ball game was waiting for us.

Fundamentally, the boys would cheer for the boys and the girls for the girls, but many students, including Hinami who came to see Chiaki in action, watched the games of the opposite.

If I remember just a few hours ago, there was a crowd of girls around Yamada who had won the soccer championship, transcending the boundaries of class and grade, and among them some probably approached him in a romantic meaning.

And Asahi, had also come to the gym to watch the girls’ basketball game.

However, he didn’t come there to support the person of his dreams.

Asahi was supposedly going to head to the field to cheer on the boys in his class and watch the softball game, in theory.

Just before the end of the lunch break, a couple who had been eating lunch together called him to wait.

―I’ll count on you two for support!

―Leave it us. Me and Asahi will do our utmost best.

It wasn’t the mood to say no.

On top of that, Hinami was quite enthusiastic, saying that she was going to give the brooch to Asahi and that she was ready to take the position of the MVP.

The source of her enthusiasm must be the promise she made yesterday, but I couldn’t help but feel that more than half of it was due to the legend.

Even if she were to give me the brooch, I had no intention of giving it to anyone after that, but even so, I was afraid that this couple would be teasing me for a while, so I’m sorry but I couldn’t honestly feel the need to support them.

“Hina! Goodluck! There! Go! Come on, Asahi, cheer for her too!”

“…Goodluck..”

“You’re too quiet! Oh, that’s great, Hina! Just do a layup there!”

The temperature was very different, and I was already getting used to the heated cheering as we got to the finals.

In addition, the entire gymnasium was filled with so much heat that Chiaki’s enthusiasm and love, which had been quite noticeable at first, was not so noticeable.

From the gallery on the second floor of the gymnasium, it was easy to see who was at the center of this crazy excitement on the court.

With five seconds left until halftime, the ball was in Fuyuka’s hands and Hinami was marking her.

I can’t tell you how many times I saw these two go at it in the first half of the year. What lingered in my memory was the cheering that got louder every time they went toe to toe.

Once again, in the span of five seconds, a high level of gamble took place, and just before the buzzer sounded to end the first half, the ball was released through Hinami’s block and was sucked into the goal making a beautiful curve.

“Wow, a three there? How many times was that today?”

“Maybe the 5th or 6th.”

“It’s not easy to get on the basketball team. I’ve heard the rumors, but the Ice Lady’s skills are no laughing matter.”

Asahi nodded his head in agreement with Chiaki, who was even more disappointed than Hinami.

Fuyuka’s performance was also very impressive in the two games before the finals.

That was what made Hinami, the ace of the women’s basketball team and a former national player, seem overshadowed.

Her accurate three-pointers were a near certainty when she was free, and her crisp dribbles and feints nullified defenders.

The overwhelming ability of this team, which rivaled that of a basketball team, was a surprise not only to their opponents but also to the spectators gathered in the gallery.

“I’m gonna go downstairs and talk to Hina for second.”

“Mhm, I’ll also go with you.”

“I don’t mind, but are you also going to give her a boost?”

“Not really. I’m there for the vending machine.”

“So that’s how it is. Then, let’s meet up here.”

Since it was half-time, there would be plenty of time to cheer her up, and plenty of time to buy a drink.

At the end of the conversation, he heard a convenient voice asking him to buy a cola while he was there, but Asahi chose to ignore it and parted ways with Chiaki at the entrance of the gym.

“Ah.”

The vending machine behind the gym was crowded, so I went a little farther away to the vending machine in the cafeteria, and as I was wondering what to buy, I heard a voice behind me that sounded like a bell being rolled.

The thought of going to an empty place because it was crowded seemed to overlap, and when I slowly turned around, I saw Fuyuka in her gym clothes.　

Her beautiful brown eyes, reminiscent of jewels, were as cold and emotionless as ever.

However, Asahi couldn’t help but remember the smile on her face this morning, so he turned away and turned to the vending machine after relatively greeting her.

“Thank you very much for the bento.”

“Ye-yeah, Sorry for cutting corners… I should have put more effort into making it.”

“No, it was delicious. I really like the tamagoyaki in particular.”

It was obvious, but it seemed that only Asahi was strangely conscious, and Fuyuka opened her mouth to speak words of praise quite normally.

Still, this morning’s smile was so destructive that It disrupted me when I remembered it, and even more so when I’m in front of her.

Even now, my heart flutters a little when she compliments me on my homemade tamagoyaki.

‘What is this? This is driving me crazy.’

After safely choosing a tea and giving way to Fuyuka in line behind him, Asahi slightly tilted his head.

Up until now, I’ve treated Fuyuka as a normal person, regardless of whether she was the “Ice Lady” or not.

Due to various reasons, Fuyuka’s words and attitude were cold, yet she at least conversed with me like this.

With that in mind, what was the nature of this quickening heartbeat?

I don’t have many references due to my limited relationships, but I’ve never had a similar experience just talking to someone else like this before.

In the end, Asahi couldn’t find the answer and forced his mind to calm down by pouring the tea he had just bought into his mouth.

He should have gone straight back to the gym, but instead he went to the trouble of talking to Fuyuka, who had bought a sports drink.

Keep a calm mind and be casual.

I didn’t want to end the conversation with this strange feeling, I couldn’t say it well, but I didn’t want to feel bewildered somehow.

“You’re doing great. You’re making a lot of three-pointers. Did you play in middle school?”

“Were you watching…?”

“Of course. I told you I’d come to cheer on you, right?”

From the nuance of the words, it seemed as if he had come to the gym to support Fuyuka, but he didn’t bother to deny it.

Fuyuka didn’t pursue the matter there either, but instead responded to the conversation with a suspicious glance.

“I’m good at sports because I used to play a lot. Well, it’s not something I’m proud of because of the point difference.”

“You think so? I think you can definitely win this. Look, if you just shot a lot of threes…”

“It’s not that easy. The opponents are mostly from the basketball team, and above all, the one who is marking me is very good. I could manage the first half, but they probably won’t let me do my job in the second half.”

Fuyuka’s marksman was the same throughout the first half of the game, so it must be confirmed that it was Hinami.

It seems that the ability of a former national champion was not just for show, and according to Fuyuka, she was a very strong opponent.

Perhaps it was the adrenaline from playing two quarters that made her so talkative, but it was surprising to see the normally quiet Fuyuka so talkative.

Although it was said nonchalantly, the story of her childhood was also new and interesting to me.

However, her tone of voice was quiet and her words were calm.

—

Twenty-one to twenty-eight with ten minutes remaining.

The first half of the game, which was played at a high pace, seemed to be a close match in an amateur’s eyes, but to the expert eye, the difference in ability was clearly visible.

The almost resigned voice with downcast eyes seemed to be filled with regret, even though she knew she had lost.

“…Himuro, do you have any food that you like?”

“Food? What is it all of the sudden?”

“Just tell me.”

Fuyuka looked visibly confused at Asahi, who rushed her answer to an abrupt question without giving a reason.

But apparently, she was willing to answer.

She put her hand over her mouth and thought for a few moments, and then spoke a few short words.

“…Omurice.”

“Alright, omurice it is.”

“What kind of question is that?”

“If you win today’s game, I’ll make you a fancy omurice using the most expensive ingredients I can find.”

“…Eh?”

“So, you’ve got to try and win.”

I felt like an idiot for what I was saying, but once I put it into words. I couldn’t take it back.

As Fuyuka was confused even more before, Asahi continued to talk.

“I personally need you to win. To be precise, I’d be in trouble if your opponent wins.”

This was not meddling at all, but a sudden suggestion that came to mind.

If the class led by Hinami wins the championship, Hinami would definitely be chosen as the MVP.

In that case, Asahi would be the one to receive the brooch, which legend said would make your love come true if you give it to someone.

After the ball game was over, it was obvious that not only Hinami but also Chiaki would be asking him who he was going to give it to and whether he had already given it to them.

So, if Fuyuka wins, everything would be settled in peace.

That was all there was to it.

I’d be lying if I said I had no other intentions at all, but as with all details, I decided to keep it from Fuyuka.

There was no way I could tell her in the first place.

“If I win, you will make me an omurice, Kagami-san?”

“Yeah, that’s how it is― Wait, did you get fired up from just an omurice?”

“I understand.”

“…Eh? Really..? You’re going along with it?”

“What’s with that face? You’re the one who said it.”

“That’s true, but…”

Before he could continue with his words in a vague gesture of surprise, Fuyuka turned away and walked to the gym.

“…Please don’t forget your words.”

Asahi stood dumbfounded as he looked at her glazed hair, which was tied into a ponytail at the nape of her neck, perhaps to make it easier to move.

The ridiculous suggestion I had made on the spur of the moment was really just a whim, a light-hearted joke that I had found myself saying.

I had never dreamed that it would be accepted.

‘Do you like omurice that much?’

Thinking about it, she shed tears when she ate porridge with eggs, and she also mentioned that the tamagoyaki in her lunch box were also delicious.

Maybe she really likes egg dishes that much.

That was the only reason why Fuyuka nodded, and Asahi left the cafeteria and headed for the gymnasium, feeling confused even though he had suggested it himself.