%20(1).jpg)
Chapter 30 – Relay opponent
In a few moments, the sports festival will be over, and it's time to go. There is only one more class competition, and before that, one entertainment competition.
I also have to participate in such entertainment competitions, the inter-club relay. Every year, the athletics club looks enthusiastic, but for the culture club, it's like a show.
“Yui-senpai, fight!”
“Oh, no… Please, Iori. Run for us…”
"I don't want to. It's a 4 person relay."
“Kuh...”
"We haven't had a new member this year, so we all have to run."
“No one signed up again this year...”
This pitiful looking senpai is Okura Yui-senpai. She is a senior member of the magic club, petite, bespectacled, and has the appearance of a literary girl. She was very troublesome and wasn't good at sports, so she complained even though it was almost time.
“And dressed like this...”
Now we are wearing jerseys and cloak.
“Listen, Yui, you can't talk like that now, can you? If you're going to do it, you better enjoy it, otherwise it's just a waste of time, right?”
"... Okaay."
When Katsuaki Aikawa-senpai, another senior member of the magic club, said so while patting Yui-senpai on the head, she honestly listened to what he said. Even though she complained that she didn't want to, her expression had brightened up a bit, and her face was slightly red as she touched her own head that had been petted.
It's nice that they're on good terms, but it give me a bit of damage right now, since they seem to be making out, and they're already in third grade, and there are only a few days left for club activities since Aikawa-senpai is studying hard for the exams, and I previously had to take a remedial exam, so it feels like it's been a long time since I've seen this intimacy. I feel like it's been quite a while since I've seen this loving interaction.
“Kuh… but after all… Isn't Kana embarrassed?
"Eh? ... That's right. Yui turned out to be considerate… Does that look good?”
“I'm not too happy to look good like this...”
"Well, now, what's the order of the runs?"
“Last order, Aikawa-senpai or Yui-senpai, right?”
"Oh no! Kacchan, please!”
“Oh, how about sort by name?”
"I don't want to! I will be the last one!”
My name is Kirishima, so I should have been at the front in the name order, but for some reason I was last in this club.
The magic club will perform a relay using an oval hat and a special wand as a relay wand, and the last runner will perform a magic trick to make flowers bloom from the wand. It's not hard, but it's not something we want to do, so everyone pushes each other.
"Alright, alright. I will be the last runner.”
"Oh that's good."
“Then, I will be the first, Kana the second, Yui-senpai the third and Aikawa-senpai the last.”
Everyone responded to Iori's words by saying that it was fine. The order to run was decided like that, and we waited until it was our turn to run… I was starting to get a little nervous…
+×+×+×+
... I should have picked the first order.
I regretted it as soon as I got onto the track... Maybe Iori took first place in anticipation of this?
“Kana-chan, do your best!”
“Fight Kirishima—!”
The baton handing point, where the second and fourth runners waited, was very close to our class seats. It's easy to notice that if you think about it for a second, but I didn't notice it at all.
It's quite embarrassing to be cheered on while wearing a cloak. I couldn't stand it and turned my face away. It's a little hard for me to say, 'I'll do my best!' and wave my hand.
"Fight."
“!”
I heard Kota's voice and turned around subconsciously. As I did so, I saw my classmates, especially the girls, get excited.
I thought, 'Oh damn', and at the same time I saw Kota waving his hand in the air.
Reflexively, I turned my face away again. It's normal for the relationship between Kota and me back in elementary school... What is our relationship like now?
I wanted to ask him about it beforehand, so I went to talk to him after the competition that Kota follow was over, but it got awkward and I couldn't talk to him. I wonder what Kota thinks about it. He didn't deny that he was my childhood friend, just like he told Tendo...
I don't know what to do with the mix between my desire to be close again and my feeling that I don't deserve it. Maybe if Kota didn't talk to me too often I would have managed to control my greed, but now both of them are running rampant. Huh...
"Hey, Kirishima. It will start soon.”
"Oh, yes."
As Aikawa-senpai said that, the sound of the start of the relay competition resounding. Soon, my turn will come. For now, let's concentrate on this relay run.
+×+×+×+
The result was second place for the relay… and normal for the performances. It was like a simple magic trick by senior Aikawa in the end, which was quite interesting.
As I took off my cloak and returned to my seat, my classmates were excited to see the athletic club relay.
... Hah? There was no one in the seat where Kota was supposed to sit. Where is he...?
"Good work."
“Whoa!?”
"Oh, yes, this is what mom left for Kana."
"Oh, thank you."
I was surprised when he spoke to me from a blind spot. There was a hint of a sly grin on Kota's expression, as if my reaction was to be expected.
...Really, it's like going back in time. The old Kota was not as quiet as him is now and was quite mischievous. Sometimes he would tease me a bit and when he did he would grin as he did now.
Kota said 'see you later', then went to Momoyama-kun's place.
...What... does Kota think... about me?
️➖➖➖➖➖
Memories of an interesting relay race.
The sports festival arc will end in the next issue. There's no point in continuing slowly, and I feel I should proceed to the conclusion.
Translator: Janaka