By the time I returned to the tent, the borrowing race was in full swing on the field.
Under the tent, Kiritsuki was staring at the field with a serious expression, so I slipped past her and approached Tomiya, who was rehydrating.
“How’s it going?”
“Pretty decent. Oh, looks like Miyajima’s up next to run.”
No, not that—I meant how Souma and the others are doing… Wait, why’s Souma even in something like this?
“A borrowing race, huh… What’s so fun about it?”
“Probably that being fast doesn’t always mean you’ll win, right?”
“Hmm…”
I don’t really get it. I mean, Souma’s faster than Tomiya, and he’s out there.
By the way, why’s Kiritsuki over there watching the borrowing race so intently—
“Himura!”
“Whoa, what’s up, Yamabuki?”
“Don’t ‘what’s up’ me! Take off that jacket and lend it to me!”
Huh? Why are you in the borrowing race too?
Wasn’t the fun part supposed to be that speed doesn’t guarantee a win?
She’s probably faster than Kiritsuki in a sprint, though.
Yamabuki took the long-sleeved jacket I’d been wearing over my clothes, and, as expected, she crossed the finish line in first place.
“Seriously, why a jacket for a borrowing race?”
“It’s kinda common, isn’t it? Oh, look, it’s a jacket with ‘mura’ in the embroidered name.”
“There’s gotta be others with that…”
Well, I guess having someone you don’t need to tiptoe around is important.
For some reason, Yamabuki didn’t return the jacket, but I spent the morning, with no events of my own, in a bit of a daze.
The change of pace settled my nerves, and thanks to the Hino Hana sisters, my mood was back to normal.
After a while, it was time for lunch break.
Once most of the group had finished eating, I handed out the treats Hino Hana had sent for the class.
“…Delicious.”
Led by Kaori, who for some reason looked frustrated, my classmates savored the stick cakes Hino Hana had provided.
Tomiya and Kiritsuki, who’d been dominating track events all morning, were in high spirits as they refueled with sugar.
But Kiritsuki, for some reason, kept glancing at me with a smirk.
“…What?”
“Oh, nothing~ Just thinking you seem pretty close with the person you admire, that’s all.”
Why does that feel insanely annoying?
I’m pretty sure I never said anything about having a bad relationship with Hino Hana.
Besides, if she didn’t have that enigmatic side where I can’t tell what she’s thinking or her quirky tendencies, I wouldn’t feel so uneasy around her.
Still, I never really minded her impulsive, action-driven nature since it’s been like that since forever…
But thinking about it calmly, bringing treats for an entire class at another school’s sports festival—isn’t that kind of bizarre for a high school girl?
Even Chino-san, who said she wanted to reconnect, just came to watch like a normal person.
No, I should stop thinking about her. I probably won’t ever understand.
“So, is Hino Hana still watching?”
Kiritsuki’s question came, and I immediately shook my head.
“Nah, she left. She’s busy.”
“Even though it’s Saturday?”
“Saturday or not, she’s got a lot going on. She’s a music artist, after all.”
Tomiya chimed in.
He’d said, given Hino Hana’s fame, it was weirder that Kiritsuki didn’t know much about her…
Sorry, I only know her personally—I don’t really know how famous she is, so I can’t back you up there.
“I caught a glimpse earlier, but she didn’t seem that amazing.”
“Toki-chan’s super skilled and versatile, which is honestly impressive. But… sometimes it’s hard to tell if she’s actually following the conversation.”
Kaori, who’d been listening nearby, suddenly spoke up.
Talking to Hino Hana is usually like that—it’s unpredictable, and even if you’re used to it, it’s hard to just brush off.
Still, I think that’s what makes Hino Hana just right. Without that, she’d be close to a perfect superhuman. She’s actually better at studies than me, and while I don’t know about her athletic skills, she’s great at dancing.
Like Kaori said, she’s skilled and versatile, but her deadpan expression makes it impossible to read her thoughts, and her emotions and actions don’t always align, so everything she does feels impulsive.
And above all, her sheer drive—well, just look at this pile of stick cakes, and you get the idea.
“She’s definitely an amazing person, no question.”
“I kinda get not wanting to admit it, though.”
“Even after being around her so long… But ‘admire’—”
“Oh, right!”
Even Kaori, who knows some of the details and is generally kind, gave a wry smile.
She mumbled something, but Kiritsuki’s voice drowned it out.
“Hey, I didn’t know, but are you close with Kurusaki-kun too?”
“…Huh?”
That topic switch was way too abrupt.
There’s not a single thing connecting Hino Hana and Souma.
“Weren’t you two already tight last year?”
“Well, sorta.”
When Tomiya said that, I noticed Kaori quietly frowning beside him. Even she seemed a bit annoyed at the sudden topic shift.
“Kurusaki-kun’s, like, super cool, right?!”
And Kiritsuki’s energy was oddly high.
I thought it was my imagination, but when Kiritsuki was watching Souma’s events, she was totally engrossed.
Wait, is Kiritsuki maybe into that type?
I glanced at Tomiya, wondering, and it seemed he was thinking the same thing—we locked eyes.
Exchanging a silent “Is that what’s going on?” “Probably,” I caught Kaori and Miyajima talking about something in the corner of my vision.
“Huh? So this Hino Hana person—”
Oh, they’re talking about Hino Hana? I don’t know the details, but stop there—nothing but unsolvable mysteries lie ahead.
“By the way, you’re pretty close with Souma too, right, Tomiya?”
“It’s not a big deal. We were just a battery in middle school.”
“Battery” is the term used in baseball for the pitcher and catcher duo.
“He played baseball even with one eye out?”
“He’d recovered enough to play back then. But in our third year, during a tournament, he took a dead ball to the head… and, well, no chance of recovery this time.”
“…That’s rough. It’s sports, though—can’t be helped.”
“I wanted to keep playing with him in high school, but things don’t always work out.”
Last year, we hung out a lot, but I avoided topics he didn’t seem to want to touch, so moments like this—talking with someone who knew him back then—are the only times I learn about Souma’s past.
A thought struck me, and I leaned closer to Tomiya, lowering my voice so Kiritsuki couldn’t hear.
“What about Chino-san back in middle school?”
“…Different school, but she’d often come to watch practice games. Usually with a guy who was clearly her boyfriend.”
“What kind of nerve does that take?”
“No clue. I can’t wrap my head around it—”
And what’s with a boyfriend tagging along to watch? I was thinking when Tomiya leaned in even closer.
“—That boyfriend was the pitcher who hit Souma in the head with the dead ball.”
“…”
Ugh, no, I didn’t want to hear that.
No wonder he quit baseball and doesn’t want to talk about club stuff.
It makes sense why Souma keeps his distance from his childhood friend Chino-san.
Sorry, Souma, for saying “it’s just sports” like that.
“I think she originally came to scout or something. But seeing how into Souma she was, maybe the boyfriend got jealous… You can’t help but wonder, you know?”
“Ugh…”
“Not saying it was intentional, mind you.”
With that, Tomiya slowly scanned the bleachers.
“…Guess she’s not here.”
It was just middle school sports, but sports are something you take seriously.
If it was an accident, there was probably no one to blame.
Whatever the process or outcome, it’s in the past. Both Tomiya and Souma have quietly accepted things as they are.
For Souma, who just wants to live peacefully, his childhood friend Chino Misora probably isn’t someone he wants too close.
I don’t know how strongly he feels about that without asking him directly, but…
“Oh, hey. Since there’s no club on the makeup holiday, wanna hang out, the three of us?”
Tomiya’s sudden suggestion made me nod right away.
“Sounds good. Let’s go somewhere.”
“Wonder if Souma’s free?”
No need to console him. Just keep spending time together as friends.
And with that, the sports festival moved into the afternoon session.
☆Afterword──────────────────
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