CH 58

Chapter 58: Because I Want To Form A Shape

TL: Akabane

***

Tennis on the morning of the second day. We were subjected to terrible sabotage. The representative of the team had called for the universities to be scattered as much as possible, and Igarashi and I were not allowed to be on the same team. But...

"Why are you and me on the same team? We're from the Imperial Capital University, aren't we?"

Mashiba and I were on the same team. And Kubodera, a very strong-looking sophomore who was taller and burlier than me, became a senior on our team. It was obvious that the team was made up of guys who would get in the way of Igarashi's strategy. It was a formation like this.

"It can't be helped. From the point of view of those who want to attack Igarashi, we're in the way."

"From our point of view, you're in the way, too."

Mashiba's gaze was intense. Mashiba is very close to Hagiri. Of course, she's probably heard bad things about me. I was annoyed by her gaffes in the previous world. We will never get along. And that's not all.

"Hmm? You mean you're after Tsukasa?"

"How do you know about that? Even though only me and Hagiri who are the only ones who know about it?"

"You...at times like this, you should just play it cool...why are you honestly so surprised? Do you really think you can win Tsukasa over with such a crude maneuver...?"

We're supposed to be enemies, but I couldn't help but feel worried about this girl's future. Mashiba is definitely not suited for this kind of negotiation type of maneuvering. On the contrary, I don't understand how this girl is in close proximity to Hagiri. Does she have some other gifted ability? I'm curious, but it doesn't matter right now.

"Mugugu...! You're a thug and you're trying to trick and trap us!"

"No, you just blew yourself up on your own. But hey, why do you want Tsukasa? He's a great artist, that's for sure. But I don't think he's what an entrepreneurial-minded guy like Hagiri needs, do you?"

"....... ...... we don't talk about anything!"

"So! That kind of blatant silence! It shows the importance of the situation! Don't you get it? You should at least read a spy novel once!"

I'd be more motivated if I could get someone who could play with me in a witty, flamboyant manner. However, this girls is Igarashi's best friend, and she's a clunker.

"What are you guys seriously trying to do? I'm not going to get mad, so please tell me."

I ask Mashiba with a kind smile. I hope she's going to get a rag on me for this.

"Hagiri! For the world! He's just trying to do what's good for people! That's why you're a bad guy for getting in the way of that! Hmph!"

With a grunt, Mashiba turned away and walked away from me. But she hung around the court area for a while and then came back to me. I watched her the whole time, but she didn't talk to anyone.

"...I know a loner like you can't team up with anyone! You'd be happy to work with me if I was you!"

"I saw that you couldn't talk to anyone. I'm popular enough to work with anyone, you know? I can work with anyone but you. I think it's the other way around. I'd be happy to work with you? Fuhaha."

Mashiba starts shaking. This girl definitely doesn't have any friends other than Igarashi and Hagiri. I'm sure of it. Because in the previous world, she would come to us as soon as we called her. I wonder if "savvy" means "communicative"? I don't think so....

"...Team up."

"Huh? What? Say it a hundred more times!"

"That's too much! Just get me in a team! I don't know anyone here! Please!"

"Okay. Okay."

As you can imagine, I need to get out of the hobby of tormenting girls. I need to grow up too... As a result, I spent the morning playing doubles with Mashiba. My athleticism was normally good, so I was able to finish in third place. The prize I got was a year's supply of rubber. I was definitely being harassed. I gave all the rubbers to Mashiba, telling her that I liked fresh beer. I am sure she was pleased. She was half in tears because of my kindness. And so the morning passed, and all the while Kubodera was staring at us, which gave me the chills. And so it continued into the afternoon.

***Fuji-san is the best!***

In the afternoon, an event called Hamamatsu City Sightseeing was set up. As usual, the teams were shuffled, but Mashiba and I were on the same team. But unlike the morning, the afternoon was heavenly. Tsukasa was on the same team as me. Kubodera, as usual, was staring at us the whole time. He can't do anything crazy to Igarashi as long as we are sightseeing in the city during the daytime. If he had the guts to do such a thing in the daylight, he would have gone directly and openly to seduce her in the first place. Houjou's method of trying to cover the outer moat is a hidden desire to be loved by Igarashi. His attempt to drugged Igarashi was probably also aimed at creating an already existing relationship. Even though the means are wrong, it's even more pitiful that he can't stop. Igarashi must be a devilish woman to make a man feel that way.

"If you think too much, your face will become scary. Ufufu."

Tsukasa looks into my face. Our team had come to Hamamatsu Castle.

"What do you think? I think it's a good idea to try to break up the castle in a cubist way."

"That's great, Tsukasa. The castle already boasts perfect beauty in reality. To dare to reconstruct it with surrealism is... wonderful..."

Tsukasa and I were drawing Hamamatsu Castle in our sketchbooks. This is so much fun. I used to draw alone. So having a friend like this gives me a sense of fulfillment I couldn't experience in my previous world.

"Hey, what are you guys doing? Isn't it strange for two guys to leave a girl alone while looking at something like that!"

"I don't care how you spend your time. I'm not good with girls. I'm really bad at it. I'm embarrassed just to talk to them. I can't even make eye contact. So go away. Shoo!"

Tsukasa looked at me and laughed, saying it was a lie.

"Mikamo. A person like you shouldn't waste your talent by hanging out with these punks! You should be one of us and Hagiri! Hagiri is ready to sponsor your artistic activities!"

Hagiri's power and financial resources would make him a patron of Mikamo's artistic activities. If so, it seems safe to conclude that Tsukasa's success in the previous world was due to Hagiri's support.

"You're talking about that again...? I don't care. I'm still a college student, and I want to spend my time freely like this. I've made some great friends. I want to cherish that time."

But Tsukasa, who's standing next to me right now, doesn't seem to be into it. Yes! My idol spirit beat the flirt! I don't know what his purpose is, but if Hagiri regrets it, I don't mind at all!

"Ugh... You'd rather have that thug than us?"

"Yeah..... It's not nice to bad-mouth people who aren't here, but... Hagiri doesn't like my pictures, he just needs my talent, right? I'm sorry, but I can't go to someone like that."

Tsukasa clearly refused Mashiba's invitation. That must have discouraged her. Mashiba is dejected and in a pathetic teary-eyed state to behold.

"...That's true, but.... Hagiri's dream is so wonderful... so lend me your hand... please..."

"Sorry. I won't have the same dream as you guys."

It was a clear rejection. Mashiba must have realized this. Further persuasion was pointless.

"I understand. But if you change your mind, you can always tell me. See you later..."

Mashiba walked away in a daze. Then she scurried around, trying to join the same sightseeing team, the wayward group, but she soon stopped and came back to us.

"...Can I stay here?"

"...Oh...you can stay as long as you want. Yeah."

Oh no. Poor baby! So pitiful! From the looks of it, she must be totally dependent on Hagiri in her private life. How sad.

Tsukasa, Mashiba, and I went to a souvenir shop near the castle. Tsukasa was very gentle with Mashiba, perhaps feeling guilty for refusing to go with Mashiba. Perhaps because of this, Mashiba gradually regained her usual annoyance. I don't mind if she gets better, though. This girl's distortion is a little scary. Even though it's outside my responsibility, I'm still a little worried.

"They're talking about doing fireworks on the third day! Ririse is going to wear a yukata! She's so cute!"

"Heh. She sure looks good in it. I wish I had brought my own yukata. I was in a rush and forgot to bring it."

"Haha. I'm the same! I only brought a jinbei!"

If a girl wears a jinbei, it makes her look savage. But on the other hand, it would be hard to talk to them. That's probably why she's a bit of a recluse, isn't it? Well, that's okay. But that's not the point. When I looked outside the store, I saw Kubodera staring at me as usual. He's spending all his time watching me. Please give me a break.

"Tsukasa. Isn't this nice?"

"Wow, I like it! That's it! That's nice!"

I have a hairpin in my hand. It was the one from the souvenir section. It's gold with a bell in the shape of a lily flower that makes a cool sound when you shake it.

"Tsukasa. Can you do me a favor?"

I bought the hairpin and then asked Tsukasa for some advice.

"What? Ask me anything!"

Tsukasa looks at me motivated.

"You don't have to be so uptight. Just for a moment. Get Kubodera's gaze off of me."

"Oh, that guy. He's always looking at Kanata, isn't he? Leave it to me!"

Saying that, Tsukasa immediately moved. Taking Mashiba with her, Tsukasa went toward Kubodera.

"Senpai! What do you think of this picture! Isn't it nice!"

Tsukasa showed him a sketch of Mashiba's likeness that he had drawn in his sketchbook. It is so much prettier and more beautiful than the real thing.

"Wow, she's really beautiful. You're the model, right? You're so cute."

"...Thank you..."

Kubodera seems intrigued by Tsukasa's painting and its model, Mashiba, and the three of them start chatting excitedly. Meanwhile, I sneak out of the souvenir shop and leave the place in a mad dash. This is how I succeeded in catching Kubodera's eye.

***The festival music at noon leads me to you.***

I headed for the center of Hamamatsu City. I heard that there is a festival in the city today. I walked quickly through the streets filled with food stalls. And then I found them. In the midst of a gorgeous group of Houjou and other rich boys and beautiful girls, there was a girl with beautiful hair that looked like she was covered in ashes. I slowly approach her, trying not to be noticed by them. With her gray, smoky hair, she stood out from the group. She is fragile and beautiful. She has a smile that is terribly ambiguous, and yet irresistible. There were many men who were attracted by her smile and were crushed by her life. Some were crushed on their own, some were crushed by each other. Crushed by me. She caught the men and wouldn't let them go. The ones who went to deliver glass slippers to her were ruined, without exception.

"So this time, on my father's yacht..."

"Yeah... that's great..."

With ambiguous words, ambiguous demeanor, ambiguous smile. She distances herself from everything. I'm sure that if this continue, she will disappear like smoke and run away. My hand and hers are already separated. But... I want to be there. I want to stay close to her. There are no more memories of love in the previous world. That's why. I want a piece of new memory. A group of girls were enjoying the Bon Odori dance. I'm not sure if they were enjoying themselves or not with a vague smile on their face. Eventually, the boys began to join in the Bon Odori dance in a groove. It was a deliberate joke that seemed to be a part of the riajuu. The girls were proud of themselves for making the guys do something stupid. It's the beauty of playing the silly game of love. But now I'm thankful. No one is looking at her because of the antics. I quietly approach her from behind.

"Kya! ...Eh? Tokiwa...?"

I hug Igarashi from behind.

"Be quiet. I can't be with you right now. But... I can prove that we were together..."

I picked up the hairpin and pulled the paper on her left side into a little bun with it. It would be a bit punitive to change a girl's hairstyle without permission. But. I wanted to make her my color, whatever it was.

"This...hairpin...?"

"It's a present for you. Please don't throw it away. Please."

I can't see Igarashi's face because I'm hugging her from behind. But her voice sounded sweet and trembling.

"I won't throw it away. I'll always cherish it...!"

She leans her weight on me a little. It's a comfortable weight. I want to feel it forever. But it has to end soon. The boys who had been fooling around have had enough of the bon dance and are about to return. I untie my hand from around her and quickly move away. At that moment, Igarashi turned to me. Her cheeks were flushed and she was smiling kindly. There was no ambiguity in her smile. It made me want to believe that she was full of feelings for me.

"See you later."

"Yeah, see you."

I disappear into the crowd, trying not to be noticed by them. Nothing more special happens on the second day of the camp. And so we enter the third day.