Chapter 170: Sound Advice
Next to Kaede’s strike, I was able to get a strike as well. I gave a small gut-punch and went back to my seat. If I could keep this up and at worst beat Shinji and keep up with Kaede and Otsuki-san, I would not be in last place.
“Nice strike, Yoshizumi!”
I exchanged high fives with my teammate Nikaido, who was waiting for me with a smile on her face and her hand raised in the air. Now, it was time for the real contestant to appear. I’m going to take a good look at you and see if you were really bad at this.
“As expected of Yuya-kun, that was a beautiful strike!”
As I was taking in a breath, Kaede came to talk to me, closing the distance between us. Kaede, this chair was for one person, and unlike the ones at home, it’s too small for us to sit on it together?
“I don’t mind, do you? In fact, it’s better if it’s a little narrow so that you can stick with me Yuya-kun.”
As she spoke, Kaede crossed her arms and came close to me. I could feel the soft texture of Kaede’s flabby fruits on my right arm. I shouldn’t be conscious of it. If I become conscious of it, I won’t be able to concentrate. If I lose my concentration, my score will be greatly affected.
“Fufu. It’s okay, Yuya-kun. If Yuya-kun loses, I’ll be very gentle with him in the punishment game.”
She whispered sweetly in my ear, making my heart beat faster and faster. I should just ignore it, but I couldn’t help but be curious. What does it mean to be nice?
“As for Yuya-kun’s punishment, I’ll let him off with a special photo shoot with me and a couple juice. How’s that? Isn’t that easy?”
“Yeah, it’s not easy at all, in fact it’s one of the biggest hurdles ever!”
I couldn’t lose this one at all costs. I was too embarrassed to have a couple juice. Couple juice was when you drink juice from a glass with a special straw (the kind with a heart in the center) that had two separate mouths, right? It would be too embarrassing to drink in front of Shinji, Nikaido, and Otsuki-san, even if it was just the two of them. It’s too embarrassing a situation.
“… eh, Yoshizumi. I know you want to make out with your favorite Kaede, but do you have anything to say to your teammate who is about to pitch?”
“Oh, AAH! That’s right! Good luck, Nikaido! Because I don’t believe your earlier story that you’re actually bad at bowling! Show me something cool like you always do!”
“… Yoshizumi’s idiot.”
After muttering quietly to me, who gave her a thumbs-up, Nikaido moved to the front of the lane. I could tell from his back that he was taking a deep breath and trying to concentrate. I gulped down a mouthful of spit.
“—Huh!”
Her pitching form was so beautiful that it made me think that the stories about her being bad at it were a lie. The ball was thrown with such force that if it hit the pin, it would definitely knock everything down. Yes, if it hits.
“… eh?”
Crunch! But the ten pins were still intact. The ball, which should have been heading straight for the pin, gradually turned to the left and went into the gutter just before hitting the ball.
“Hmm… I thought I could do it, but I guess not.”
Nikaido twisted her head as she waited for the ball to come back. It was true that Otsuki-san and Kaede-san were wondering why the ball went to the left. Shinji had missed the moment and Yui-chan was too busy with her own pitching.
“Why don’t you try standing a little differently? Stand a little to the right and look at the second or third triangle in front of you when you throw, not the pin.”
“Triangle mark? Aah, you mean that. And the one on the right. Okay, I’ll try.”
If the ball flows to the left, it would be simple but effective to move your standing position to the right. A pro bowler explained in a video that it was easier for the ball to go where you aim by looking at the black markings — called spats — that were in the way instead of looking at the pins when throwing.
“Yuya-kun’s current advice was very accurate. You’ve been watching Ai-chan very closely, haven’t you?”
“… If you lose, it’s couple juice with Kaede. Besides, if we’re going to have fun together, why not? It would be frustrating and boring if I were the only one who didn’t get a score.”
Even though we were all playing together like this, as long as the scores were given out, we must come up with a good number. It would be frustrating if you were the only one with a low score, and even more so if you were Nikaido, who had a competitive streak.
“I’m just trying to give you the best advice I can. And”
─ I’m watching Kaede’s play more closely.
He put his face close to Kaede’s and whispered softly in her ear. If she did it to me, I had to do it back. It seemed to have a great effect, and her cheeks instantly turned red like a boiled ricecake, and she backed away from me, holding her ears as she screamed inaudibly.
“Hey, Yuya-kun, that’s a foul thing to do out of the blue!? You startled me!”
“Kaede was the one who took us by surprise, right? Then you have to be prepared to be taken by surprise too, right?”
Kaede was bracing herself like a threatening cat, but from my point of view, it was just the small resistance of a cute kitten. I patted her on the head and she immediately smiled.
“Ehehe… please give me more strokes as a reward for my strike. If you do, I’ll consider taking it easy on you.”
Eh, really? I like stroking Kaede’s head, so I’ll gladly stroke it, although she had no cat ears. By the way, you smell good again today. It makes me feel so relaxed.
“Yuya, Yuya-kun. Please don’t sniff my hair. I’m so embarrassed”
“… Yoshizumi’s… Yoshizumi’s idiot. ——!!”
Immediately after the angry shout, there was a crash! and a flashy sound was heard. The ten pins on the lane had been successfully wiped out, and Nikaido came zipping back with great strides, quietly exhaling hot air.
“What do you have to say for yourself?”
“. eh, sorry for the flirting?”
“No! No, it’s not, but that’s not it right now. You saw it, right? I knocked out all the pins, didn’t I? Isn’t that amazing?”
When I thought she was angry, Nikaido stared at me with sparkling eyes as if asking me to praise her. If Kaede was a kitten then Nikaido would be a puppy. If she had a tail, she’d be wagging it all over the place.
“Aah, you’re still amazing, Nikaido. Let’s win this game.”
“Yes! I don’t think I can lose with Yoshizumi at my side!”
We exchanged high fives for the second time today. I feel like I could win against Kaede and Otsuki-san, but only with Nikaido. I would definitely try to avoid the punishment game.
“… Yuya-kun, you idiot. I will never take it easy on you. I’ll give it my all from here on out! Be prepared for anything!”
Kaede, her cheeks puffed out like a blowfish, declared war on me.
I retract my previous statement. I may lose this game.
Chapter 170: Sound Advice
Next to Kaede’s strike, I was able to get a strike as well. I gave a small gut-punch and went back to my seat. If I could keep this up and at worst beat Shinji and keep up with Kaede and Otsuki-san, I would not be in last place.
“Nice strike, Yoshizumi!”
I exchanged high fives with my teammate Nikaido, who was waiting for me with a smile on her face and her hand raised in the air. Now, it was time for the real contestant to appear. I’m going to take a good look at you and see if you were really bad at this.
“As expected of Yuya-kun, that was a beautiful strike!”
As I was taking in a breath, Kaede came to talk to me, closing the distance between us. Kaede, this chair was for one person, and unlike the ones at home, it’s too small for us to sit on it together?
“I don’t mind, do you? In fact, it’s better if it’s a little narrow so that you can stick with me Yuya-kun.”
As she spoke, Kaede crossed her arms and came close to me. I could feel the soft texture of Kaede’s flabby fruits on my right arm. I shouldn’t be conscious of it. If I become conscious of it, I won’t be able to concentrate. If I lose my concentration, my score will be greatly affected.
“Fufu. It’s okay, Yuya-kun. If Yuya-kun loses, I’ll be very gentle with him in the punishment game.”
She whispered sweetly in my ear, making my heart beat faster and faster. I should just ignore it, but I couldn’t help but be curious. What does it mean to be nice?
“As for Yuya-kun’s punishment, I’ll let him off with a special photo shoot with me and a couple juice. How’s that? Isn’t that easy?”
“Yeah, it’s not easy at all, in fact it’s one of the biggest hurdles ever!”
I couldn’t lose this one at all costs. I was too embarrassed to have a couple juice. Couple juice was when you drink juice from a glass with a special straw (the kind with a heart in the center) that had two separate mouths, right? It would be too embarrassing to drink in front of Shinji, Nikaido, and Otsuki-san, even if it was just the two of them. It’s too embarrassing a situation.
“… eh, Yoshizumi. I know you want to make out with your favorite Kaede, but do you have anything to say to your teammate who is about to pitch?”
“Oh, AAH! That’s right! Good luck, Nikaido! Because I don’t believe your earlier story that you’re actually bad at bowling! Show me something cool like you always do!”
“… Yoshizumi’s idiot.”
After muttering quietly to me, who gave her a thumbs-up, Nikaido moved to the front of the lane. I could tell from his back that he was taking a deep breath and trying to concentrate. I gulped down a mouthful of spit.
“—Huh!”
Her pitching form was so beautiful that it made me think that the stories about her being bad at it were a lie. The ball was thrown with such force that if it hit the pin, it would definitely knock everything down. Yes, if it hits.
“… eh?”
Crunch! But the ten pins were still intact. The ball, which should have been heading straight for the pin, gradually turned to the left and went into the gutter just before hitting the ball.
“Hmm… I thought I could do it, but I guess not.”
Nikaido twisted her head as she waited for the ball to come back. It was true that Otsuki-san and Kaede-san were wondering why the ball went to the left. Shinji had missed the moment and Yui-chan was too busy with her own pitching.
“Why don’t you try standing a little differently? Stand a little to the right and look at the second or third triangle in front of you when you throw, not the pin.”
“Triangle mark? Aah, you mean that. And the one on the right. Okay, I’ll try.”
If the ball flows to the left, it would be simple but effective to move your standing position to the right. A pro bowler explained in a video that it was easier for the ball to go where you aim by looking at the black markings — called spats — that were in the way instead of looking at the pins when throwing.
“Yuya-kun’s current advice was very accurate. You’ve been watching Ai-chan very closely, haven’t you?”
“… If you lose, it’s couple juice with Kaede. Besides, if we’re going to have fun together, why not? It would be frustrating and boring if I were the only one who didn’t get a score.”
Even though we were all playing together like this, as long as the scores were given out, we must come up with a good number. It would be frustrating if you were the only one with a low score, and even more so if you were Nikaido, who had a competitive streak.
“I’m just trying to give you the best advice I can. And”
─ I’m watching Kaede’s play more closely.
He put his face close to Kaede’s and whispered softly in her ear. If she did it to me, I had to do it back. It seemed to have a great effect, and her cheeks instantly turned red like a boiled ricecake, and she backed away from me, holding her ears as she screamed inaudibly.
“Hey, Yuya-kun, that’s a foul thing to do out of the blue!? You startled me!”
“Kaede was the one who took us by surprise, right? Then you have to be prepared to be taken by surprise too, right?”
Kaede was bracing herself like a threatening cat, but from my point of view, it was just the small resistance of a cute kitten. I patted her on the head and she immediately smiled.
“Ehehe… please give me more strokes as a reward for my strike. If you do, I’ll consider taking it easy on you.”
Eh, really? I like stroking Kaede’s head, so I’ll gladly stroke it, although she had no cat ears. By the way, you smell good again today. It makes me feel so relaxed.
“Yuya, Yuya-kun. Please don’t sniff my hair. I’m so embarrassed”
“… Yoshizumi’s… Yoshizumi’s idiot. ——!!”
Immediately after the angry shout, there was a crash! and a flashy sound was heard. The ten pins on the lane had been successfully wiped out, and Nikaido came zipping back with great strides, quietly exhaling hot air.
“What do you have to say for yourself?”
“. eh, sorry for the flirting?”
“No! No, it’s not, but that’s not it right now. You saw it, right? I knocked out all the pins, didn’t I? Isn’t that amazing?”
When I thought she was angry, Nikaido stared at me with sparkling eyes as if asking me to praise her. If Kaede was a kitten then Nikaido would be a puppy. If she had a tail, she’d be wagging it all over the place.
“Aah, you’re still amazing, Nikaido. Let’s win this game.”
“Yes! I don’t think I can lose with Yoshizumi at my side!”
We exchanged high fives for the second time today. I feel like I could win against Kaede and Otsuki-san, but only with Nikaido. I would definitely try to avoid the punishment game.
“… Yuya-kun, you idiot. I will never take it easy on you. I’ll give it my all from here on out! Be prepared for anything!”
Kaede, her cheeks puffed out like a blowfish, declared war on me.
I retract my previous statement. I may lose this game.
