Chapter 128: You naïve jerk!
“Haa… you’ve been through a lot.”
Sighing, I left the club room. It was indeed chilly after the sun had set.
I was baptized by the seniors in today’s club activity. Even though we were practicing for a game, we were being subjected to some serious sliding tackles with deadly intent and some unnecessary running passes that we had to chase after. It was good that they were filled with motivation, but I think they were aiming for a slightly different direction.
This was all due to the fact that Kaede was looking at the ground with a smiling face. The cheers that sounded from time to time cheered me up, but at the same time, it made me want to kill myself.
“Or at least I should ask them to watch from the classroom.”
If I don’t then I might not be able to sustain myself. It was just that I felt strangely empowered when I thought of that smiling face watching over me. What should I do now?
“Ah, Yoshizumi-senpai!”
As I walked along, troubled, I heard a familiar voice call my name. I turned around and saw Yui waving at me.
“Good work, Yoshizumi-senpai! Could it be that you were really staying alone for practice?”
“Good work, Yui-chan. Yes, I was. There were a few new members with me though till the middle of the club activity.”
“Nikaido-senpai told me that Yoshizumi-senpai has been practicing alone ever since he joined the club… Wow, she was right.”
Suddenly, a younger colleague gave me an admiring look, and I felt my back itch. Please, don’t look at me with those sparkling eyes.
“That’s not the point! What are you doing here at this hour, Yuki? Have you been practicing alone too?”
“Yes! Nikaido-senpai said she was going to stay and practice, so I stayed with her! Nikaido-senpai is really cool… I admire her so much.”
“Ehehe,” smiled Yui, who seemed to have fallen completely in love with Nikaido, the ace of the basketball team. But I didn’t know she practiced alone, either.
“Today Nikaido-senpai seemed to be very enthusiastic. I guess you could call it a sense of urgency? Like, ‘I can’t lose to anyone!’ The aura was amazing.”
“Well, Nikaido’s got a competitive spirit. She was probably frustrated that Kaede had gotten the better of her in PE today.”
But as a member of the same sports club, I couldn’t help but understand Nikaido’s feelings. At the time, I replied without hesitation, but if I were in the same position, I’m sure I’d feel frustrated and start practicing more from that day onwards. Well, I didn’t think Kaede was that athletic either.
“Kaede-neesan has always been the best at everything she does. People say she’s a genius, but behind the scenes, she puts in a lot of effort.”
“Aah… yes, you’re right. I know Kaede is working hard in places you can’t see. It’s really amazing, isn’t it.”
It had been a few months since we started living together. During that duration, I learned that she was working hard every day to be called the cutest high school girl in Japan. Well, I was in a hurry when I collapsed from lack of sleep due to all the stress.
Maybe that was when I became conscious of Kaede. I thought Kaede was a perfect person, but then I realized she was just a normal girl, and then–
“Fufu . Yoshizumi-senpai, do you know what you look like right now?”
“… what?”
“Now Yoshizumi-senpai, you’re making a very de-love face, aren’t you? Don’t you love Kaede too much?”
Yui put her hand over her mouth and gave me a nasty smile. Was it necessary for her to look so delirious while saying that?
“—I also said that I did. You don’t even have to look at her face in order to observe the aura of love leaking out of her body.”
Looking back in response towards the source of the dignified and transparent husky voice. While shrugging, Nikaido approached me with a short run and hit my shoulder with the same momentum. It hurt a little.
“The aura of infatuation should be moderate? I’ve heard from Yui that the first year boys have all been affected by your and Kaede’s strawberry aura?”
“That’s right! Because Yoshizumi-senpai and Kaede-neesan suddenly create a strawberry atmosphere wherever they go, the boys in my class are making dead faces! Please behave yourself a little!”
“That’s… that’s ridiculous”
You think I’m flirting with Kaede everywhere? It can’t be.
“Well, as much as that, the girls are sighing too.”
“Hmm? What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I mean it as it is! Yoshizumi-senpai looks like a much more mature man compared to the boys in his class. Girls are vulnerable to that kind of thing! Isn’t that right, Nikaido-senpai!?”
“This is where you’re going to shake me!? Oh, aah… yeah. That’s right. Yoshizumi is certainly more mature than the other boys, or maybe he has a core”
Nikaido seemed to be mumbling to herself. I couldn’t see her well because she was lying on her back, but her cheeks seemed to be getting redder, or was it my imagination?
“Shut up, it’s the setting sun!”
“… though it’s been long since it sank.”
I made an honest comment and she told me to shut up again and then hit me with her bag. That was why it hurts so badly.
“… Nikaido-senpai and Yoshizumi-senpai are really close. I feel something like a friendship that transcends the boundaries of gender.”
Yui wrinkled her brow and sensed something. It was true that Nikaido and I shared a lot of common interests, and we had been sitting next to each other all year. I’m pretty sure we were as close as Shinji. Though, I didn’t know what Nikaido thought about that.
“If only the dragonfly hadn’t shown up… haa… you naive b*****d.”
“What’s the matter, Nikaido?”
Nikaido sighed deliberately and mumbled something. Sadly, I couldn’t catch what she said. I felt as if she said something bad.
“It’s nothing. Yoshizumi just needs to make out with Kaede. I’ll take Yui home with me.”
“Wait, Nikaido-senpai!?”
Nikaido then put her arm around Yuu’s shoulders and hugged her gently. Yui-chan was surprised by the suddenness of the situation and panicked, her face turning red.
“Please help me, Yoshizumi senpai!”
She appealed with her eyes, “but what should I do?”
“Yuya-kun! What kind of situation is this? Why is Ai-chan hugging Yui?”
Kaede, the savior of the world, appeared at the perfect time. Yui, with tears in her eyes, resisted desperately and escaped Nikaido’s clutches and jumped into Kaede’s chest.
“Help me Kaede-neesan! If this continues, I’ll be corrupted by Nikaido-senpai!”
“Eh, eh… and… Yuya-kun, please explain the situation. I have no idea.”
Kaede asked me as she patted Yui’s head in confusion, but don’t worry. The only thing I knew was that Nikaido had suddenly entered prince mode.
“Haha. I’m sorry, Yui. It was just too cute, so I got into a bad mood. This is all your fault, Yoshizumi.”
“You’re being very unreasonable just now, dude!”
Nikaido crossed her arms and turned away with a huff, appealing not to listen. I don’t even know what I’ve done.
“Kaede-neesan? I’m in a lot of pain,… … ?”
“No, no, no”
“Help! Help me, Yoshizumi-senpai! If this continues, Kaede-neesan will fold me into a mackerel and my body will be in serious trouble! Please help me!”
When I heard Yui’s sad cry, I looked over to see Kaede hugging Yui with all her might, letting out a groan. What’s wrong with you!?
“… Yuya-kun’s a cheater.”
That’s ridiculous!?
Chapter 128: You naïve jerk!
“Haa… you’ve been through a lot.”
Sighing, I left the club room. It was indeed chilly after the sun had set.
I was baptized by the seniors in today’s club activity. Even though we were practicing for a game, we were being subjected to some serious sliding tackles with deadly intent and some unnecessary running passes that we had to chase after. It was good that they were filled with motivation, but I think they were aiming for a slightly different direction.
This was all due to the fact that Kaede was looking at the ground with a smiling face. The cheers that sounded from time to time cheered me up, but at the same time, it made me want to kill myself.
“Or at least I should ask them to watch from the classroom.”
If I don’t then I might not be able to sustain myself. It was just that I felt strangely empowered when I thought of that smiling face watching over me. What should I do now?
“Ah, Yoshizumi-senpai!”
As I walked along, troubled, I heard a familiar voice call my name. I turned around and saw Yui waving at me.
“Good work, Yoshizumi-senpai! Could it be that you were really staying alone for practice?”
“Good work, Yui-chan. Yes, I was. There were a few new members with me though till the middle of the club activity.”
“Nikaido-senpai told me that Yoshizumi-senpai has been practicing alone ever since he joined the club… Wow, she was right.”
Suddenly, a younger colleague gave me an admiring look, and I felt my back itch. Please, don’t look at me with those sparkling eyes.
“That’s not the point! What are you doing here at this hour, Yuki? Have you been practicing alone too?”
“Yes! Nikaido-senpai said she was going to stay and practice, so I stayed with her! Nikaido-senpai is really cool… I admire her so much.”
“Ehehe,” smiled Yui, who seemed to have fallen completely in love with Nikaido, the ace of the basketball team. But I didn’t know she practiced alone, either.
“Today Nikaido-senpai seemed to be very enthusiastic. I guess you could call it a sense of urgency? Like, ‘I can’t lose to anyone!’ The aura was amazing.”
“Well, Nikaido’s got a competitive spirit. She was probably frustrated that Kaede had gotten the better of her in PE today.”
But as a member of the same sports club, I couldn’t help but understand Nikaido’s feelings. At the time, I replied without hesitation, but if I were in the same position, I’m sure I’d feel frustrated and start practicing more from that day onwards. Well, I didn’t think Kaede was that athletic either.
“Kaede-neesan has always been the best at everything she does. People say she’s a genius, but behind the scenes, she puts in a lot of effort.”
“Aah… yes, you’re right. I know Kaede is working hard in places you can’t see. It’s really amazing, isn’t it.”
It had been a few months since we started living together. During that duration, I learned that she was working hard every day to be called the cutest high school girl in Japan. Well, I was in a hurry when I collapsed from lack of sleep due to all the stress.
Maybe that was when I became conscious of Kaede. I thought Kaede was a perfect person, but then I realized she was just a normal girl, and then–
“Fufu . Yoshizumi-senpai, do you know what you look like right now?”
“… what?”
“Now Yoshizumi-senpai, you’re making a very de-love face, aren’t you? Don’t you love Kaede too much?”
Yui put her hand over her mouth and gave me a nasty smile. Was it necessary for her to look so delirious while saying that?
“—I also said that I did. You don’t even have to look at her face in order to observe the aura of love leaking out of her body.”
Looking back in response towards the source of the dignified and transparent husky voice. While shrugging, Nikaido approached me with a short run and hit my shoulder with the same momentum. It hurt a little.
“The aura of infatuation should be moderate? I’ve heard from Yui that the first year boys have all been affected by your and Kaede’s strawberry aura?”
“That’s right! Because Yoshizumi-senpai and Kaede-neesan suddenly create a strawberry atmosphere wherever they go, the boys in my class are making dead faces! Please behave yourself a little!”
“That’s… that’s ridiculous”
You think I’m flirting with Kaede everywhere? It can’t be.
“Well, as much as that, the girls are sighing too.”
“Hmm? What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I mean it as it is! Yoshizumi-senpai looks like a much more mature man compared to the boys in his class. Girls are vulnerable to that kind of thing! Isn’t that right, Nikaido-senpai!?”
“This is where you’re going to shake me!? Oh, aah… yeah. That’s right. Yoshizumi is certainly more mature than the other boys, or maybe he has a core”
Nikaido seemed to be mumbling to herself. I couldn’t see her well because she was lying on her back, but her cheeks seemed to be getting redder, or was it my imagination?
“Shut up, it’s the setting sun!”
“… though it’s been long since it sank.”
I made an honest comment and she told me to shut up again and then hit me with her bag. That was why it hurts so badly.
“… Nikaido-senpai and Yoshizumi-senpai are really close. I feel something like a friendship that transcends the boundaries of gender.”
Yui wrinkled her brow and sensed something. It was true that Nikaido and I shared a lot of common interests, and we had been sitting next to each other all year. I’m pretty sure we were as close as Shinji. Though, I didn’t know what Nikaido thought about that.
“If only the dragonfly hadn’t shown up… haa… you naive b*****d.”
“What’s the matter, Nikaido?”
Nikaido sighed deliberately and mumbled something. Sadly, I couldn’t catch what she said. I felt as if she said something bad.
“It’s nothing. Yoshizumi just needs to make out with Kaede. I’ll take Yui home with me.”
“Wait, Nikaido-senpai!?”
Nikaido then put her arm around Yuu’s shoulders and hugged her gently. Yui-chan was surprised by the suddenness of the situation and panicked, her face turning red.
“Please help me, Yoshizumi senpai!”
She appealed with her eyes, “but what should I do?”
“Yuya-kun! What kind of situation is this? Why is Ai-chan hugging Yui?”
Kaede, the savior of the world, appeared at the perfect time. Yui, with tears in her eyes, resisted desperately and escaped Nikaido’s clutches and jumped into Kaede’s chest.
“Help me Kaede-neesan! If this continues, I’ll be corrupted by Nikaido-senpai!”
“Eh, eh… and… Yuya-kun, please explain the situation. I have no idea.”
Kaede asked me as she patted Yui’s head in confusion, but don’t worry. The only thing I knew was that Nikaido had suddenly entered prince mode.
“Haha. I’m sorry, Yui. It was just too cute, so I got into a bad mood. This is all your fault, Yoshizumi.”
“You’re being very unreasonable just now, dude!”
Nikaido crossed her arms and turned away with a huff, appealing not to listen. I don’t even know what I’ve done.
“Kaede-neesan? I’m in a lot of pain,… … ?”
“No, no, no”
“Help! Help me, Yoshizumi-senpai! If this continues, Kaede-neesan will fold me into a mackerel and my body will be in serious trouble! Please help me!”
When I heard Yui’s sad cry, I looked over to see Kaede hugging Yui with all her might, letting out a groan. What’s wrong with you!?
“… Yuya-kun’s a cheater.”
That’s ridiculous!?
