On a late April day, during the last morning class, which was PE, students were practicing for the sports festival to be held after Golden Week.
“Himura, grab that side.”
Caught off guard by the sudden call, I almost reflexively placed my hand on a nearby metal ladder.
“Got it.”
The sports festival—I’m not exactly a fan.
I’ve got stamina, sure, but my running speed is just average.
I used to attend a dance school separate from Kagura Mai, so I’m pretty good at things like acrobatics, but sadly, running? Still just average.
“Ready, heave!”
I don’t know if it’s because I use different muscles or my running form is off, but it doesn’t matter much when my bigger issue is my trauma of standing out in a bad way. Being stared at by a crowd of strangers makes my body shrink in on itself.
In short, I’m definitely not the type to shine at a sports festival. I don’t know when I became like this, but I know why. Or rather, there’s only one thing that comes to mind.
“This is heavy…”
A metal ladder—what were they even using this for?
It’s ridiculously heavy, even with two guys carrying it.
“Yeah.”
That’s why I’m only in a few events, but thanks to Kaori, I got roped into ones where stamina is key.
One is a long-distance obstacle course that spans the entire field.
The other is a serious game of tag, where ten track team members play the “demons” against a class-selected team.
Those are my two events, but on top of that, I’m also supposed to do some dancing.
I thought this last year too, but isn’t it kind of absurd for high schoolers to be playing tag so seriously?
It’s surprisingly fun to watch, but now that I’m the one doing it and thinking about it calmly, it’s just… weird.
While cleaning up the obstacles used for the obstacle course practice, I was mulling over these thoughts when the guy carrying the ladder with me, Tsuse Kouji—a guy just as plain as me, the “oh, that background character” type—stopped in his tracks.
“Whoa, careful…!”
“My bad.”
I shifted my gaze in the same direction as Tsuse, and he muttered under his breath.
“Why do our eyes always chase after things that move like that, without even thinking?”
I had no clue what he was getting at, but I answered vaguely with the first thing that came to mind.
“I heard something like eighty percent of human sensory information comes from vision.”
“So, it’s only natural we reflexively look at big, moving things. It’s probably part of our danger-sensing instincts, right?”
“Probably.”
“…Well, that thing’s practically a weapon, isn’t it?”
“A weapon?”
There’s no way there’s a “weapon” swinging around on a high school field.
Following the direction of his gaze to see what he was looking at, I spotted Miyajima, running with a desperate expression while playing tag.
Sure enough, something was moving—big time.
“Oh, a weapon, huh.”
And then there was Kiritsuki, who Miyajima was chasing, with absolutely none of that. Since nothing about her was bouncing around, it made Miyajima stand out even more.
Glancing around, I figured if Kiritsuki and Miyajima were together, Kaori would be nearby too. Sure enough, I spotted her in the shade at a distance, watching the two.
“What do you have to eat to end up like that?”
“Who knows? I heard overseas livestock get pumped with growth hormones, so people there tend to have bigger bodies on average than Japanese people.”
We kept up the pointless chatter as we started moving again.
“For real?”
“It’s just urban legend-level stuff. Apparently, they regulate it up to a certain limit. Plus, I don’t know if growth hormones would make that kind of weapon grow.”
From what I know, a woman’s chest develops mainly due to female hormones, but whether growth hormones used for livestock would boost female hormone production is beyond what a regular high schooler would know.
“But yeah, women interviewed on overseas beaches always seem pretty big, don’t they?”
“Never seen it myself, but maybe they’re just picking those kinds of people for the interviews?”
“Maybe. But isn’t body growth mostly genetic anyway?”
“Who knows? I heard immunity and talent are genetic, bones form in the fetal stage, and physique develops during growth periods…”
“Who’re you even hearing all this from?”
“…Who was it again?”
Probably saw it on TV or something.
At least, that’s how I’ve processed it in my head, so I must’ve heard it somewhere.
Whether it’s true or not doesn’t matter to me.
“Alright, let’s set it down. Watch your feet.”
“Got it.”
We stowed the heavy metal ladder in the equipment shed and went to collect the hurdles still left on the course.
“Well… regardless of actual body shape, I think posture and bone structure matter more for how you look.”
I said that, unprompted, partly to stick up for the girl who doesn’t bounce.
Tsuse nodded in agreement.
“Big chest or not, if you slouch, you just look fat.”
Man, that’s a bold way to put it.
Where’d your tact go?
“Clothes matter too. You can hide your figure pretty well with them. But with track uniforms? No chance of faking it.”
“I don’t know about that. Don’t you like girls who wear oversized long-sleeves with short shorts? Especially if they take off the long-sleeve and—bam—hidden curves?”
“Oh, I’m totally into that.”
…I feel like the topic’s been bouncing around, but whatever, let’s not dwell on it.
High school boys’ conversations are probably like this, right?
Once again, we glanced over at Miyajima.
There she was, hands on her knees, panting heavily, while Kiritsuki stood over her with a smug look, fanning herself by flapping the hem of her shirt.
“She could go a bit easier on her.”
“Chasing after a track team member’s gotta be tough. Must be a lot of air resistance.”
“Still, Miyajima’s pretty fast, isn’t she?”
“Yeah, seriously. Doesn’t it hurt, bouncing around like that?”
“She’s been holding them down every now and then, so probably.”
This whole conversation would probably earn us some serious scorn if any girls overheard. We’ve been going on and on about their physical traits.
But, well, high school boys are like this, yeah, probably.
By the time we finished clearing all the obstacles, the chime signaling the end of morning classes rang out.
The sky today was clear and bright.
As we headed back to the classroom, I caught sight of students gathering in the courtyard with their bentos.
Passing by that scene, I entered the school building and stepped into the third-floor boys’ changing room.
Before changing, I went around opening all the windows, and one by one, the other guys from class started filing in.
“So hot…”
“It’s actually cooler outside with the breeze.”
“Yo, someone hit the deodorant spray.”
“It’s only April, and it’s already this hot?”
“Anyone got a sweat wipe?”
The changing room got noisy fast.
Not wanting to stick around too long, I quickly changed and left.
Just then, Kiritsuki and Kaori stepped out of the girls’ changing room next door at the same time.
“Oh…”
“?”
The moment they saw my face, they both took a slight step back.
Frowning at their obvious reaction, I finally figured out what was up when Kaori started sniffing at the collar of her shirt.
Kiritsuki aside, Kaori was quieter than usual today. From what I’d noticed this morning—her avoiding intense exercise and being self-conscious about her scent—it was probably that time of the month.
I’d been told by her mom, not Kaori herself, to be aware of it. Apparently, Kaori gets a slight fever and sweats more during her period, which makes her extra sensitive about her smell.
I don’t really want to get involved in delicate girl stuff, but I can’t completely ignore the concern of Kaori’s mom, who said it’s reassuring to have someone close by who can support her.
That said, that’s more for when we’re at home. At school, with Kiritsuki by her side, there shouldn’t be any issues.
She looked a little under the weather, but it seemed like I didn’t need to step in today.
Thinking all that through in a split second, I said nothing and headed back to the classroom.
“Huh?”
Kiritsuki let out a small, startled sound.
“Kana, do I really smell sweaty today?”
“Nah, I think you’re fine. But that wasn’t the face of someone avoiding you out of courtesy, right?”
I can hear you, you know. What am I supposed to do about my face?
Besides, you’re the ones who stepped back first. Was I meddling too much?
“Oh, Nanami.”
“Kaori-chan, you were resting earlier. You okay?”
“Oh, yeah, just a little something.”
I pretended not to notice the guys from the changing room starting to chat with the two girls.
Even back in the classroom, a crowd of guys was gathering around Kaori.
“Nanami-san, you hitting the cafeteria today?”
“I brought a bento.”
“Then I know a great spot where we can take it easy. Wanna come with?”
“Hey, don’t try to sneak ahead like that!”
“No, you’re the one interrupting when I’m talking!”
I thought the transfer student hype had died down, but nope, everyone’s right back to Kaori in a flash.
Well, actually, this is the first time this school year.
We were in different classes in our first year, so I didn’t know much back then, but apparently, it’s been like this ever since we started high school.
“Nanami-san, got a quick errand before lunch. Mind coming along?”
Oh, finally, Tomiya’s stepping in, noticing Kaori’s not feeling great.
“Oh, Tomiya-kun, what’s up?”
That’s probably him trying to take her to the nurse’s office. Sharp guy, that popular jerk.
But seriously, someone, anyone, call out to Kiritsuki too. She’s standing there looking exasperated.
No, instead of being exasperated, why not help her out?
I don’t know how, though.
Not long ago, Miyajima was in a similar spot, but with her formal speech, calm demeanor, and slightly shy personality, she’s starting to give off an unapproachable vibe.
Lately, the only classmates I’ve seen talking to her are Kaori and Kiritsuki.
Outside the classroom, though, I’ve spotted her getting swarmed by guys from other classes.
I’m not one to stick my nose into messy situations if I can avoid it. Staying out of trouble is the best way to go.
Getting caught up with a shady classmate at a convenience store or having a clerk say something that cuts deep is mentally and physically exhausting.
“Seriously, they could at least think about Kaori’s feelings for a second…”
…Hold up, Kiritsuki, when did you sneak over here? I swear Kaori just did a double-take.
“Hey, Himura-kun, got a minute?”
“…Can it wait till after I’m done eating?”
After confirming Kiritsuki’s nod, I started scarfing down my food a bit faster.
☆Afterword──────────────────
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