CH 120

This is Where I Stand

–Lunch break.

I was having lunch with the usual group of Rin, Kenichi, and Fuji-san.

The conversation was, of course, about the sports festival.

“I’m seriously going to hate you, Kenichi… You didn’t have to say it in that situation, did you? Thanks to you, I felt like I was publicly executed…”

“Hahaha. I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”

To my resentment, Kenichi only put his hands in front of his face and made a pretense of apologizing.

I don’t know why he said it in such an implicit way… but Kenichi looked somewhat amused and had a smile on his face.

I don’t … see any signs of remorse.

Well, I can understand that he was doing it for my sake, but…

That said, I don’t really understand the point of saying that in that situation.

That situation was a public execution no matter how anyone looked at it.

It looks to me like the composition of a “botch who was made an example”.

“Haaaa…”

I sighed loudly and dropped my shoulders.

Then Rin snuggled into my arms and looked at me with concern.

You’re still as close as ever… Well, it’s a little late for that.

“Towa-kun… are you okay?”

“I’m fine … I was just almost hit by the heat from the others.”

“I’m not sure I understand what you mean… Kato-san? If you try anything weird with Towa-kun, I won’t forgive you, okay?”

“Oh scary!?”

“… Rin. Don’t get emotional right away. I’m not going to say that Kenichi did it without thinking about it.”

“That’s true, but…”

“… Rin is overprotective.”

“…Yeah? Well, that’s right~”

“…Kenichi? There was a pause of a few seconds… If you really did not think this through… I won’t forgive you, okay?”

Fuji-san glared at me with sharp eyes.

Oh…that’s scary.

Depending on the reply, Kenichi has no future.

That’s how I feel about it…

It’s rare that there are two people blaming Kenichi. If you include me, he’s under siege.

Kenichi’s expression is tense at such a situation, but he seems to be relaxed enough to make fun of it, “Oh, I’m scared.”

“Kato-san?” “…Kenichi?”

–The two beautiful girls are staring at him, and the handsome guy is being pressed by them.

Yeah, this is it.

From the outside, he looks like a guy who is being chased by two beautiful girls.

I’m tempted to make fun of this, but …… if I get on a strange rant here…, I’m sure it’s going to get even more complicated.

Anyway, I think it’s rare for Kenichi to say something like that…

Seriously, it’s not just a spur-of-the-moment thing, right…….?

“Don’t look so worried. But I have to tell you something, you know? Well, I’ve got my own ideas, so you can trust me. I’m not going to hurt you.”

“”…If you lie, I will get angry (because I will get angry).””

“Not only Wakamiya, but even Kotone too … scary!”

Although he said he was scared, he still smiled.

You really don’t know the bottom of the barrel, Kenichi…

I feel like he’s just like Lisa in terms of atmosphere.

Um… that … feeling of not being able to win no matter what you do.

“But the class was convinced that Towa and I could come up with a plan, weren’t they?”

“No, no, no. Nakamaru and the others looked at me like they were going to murder me… I mean, he was skeptical, right?”

“Hahaha. But isn’t that what you expected?”

“That’s true, but it doesn’t feel good.”

Considering my behavior up to now, I’m the classroom tumor, the straggler… that’s me.

So it’s no wonder Nakamaru reacted the way he did.

<“Kato. I don’t think it’s right for me to interfere with your opinion after having recommended you for the position of leader. But even so, let me say this. I’m sorry to say this, but I can’t imagine Tokiwagi doing his duty diligently and sincerely and working hard.”>

This was said before Rin and the others arrived.

This is just an excerpt, the complaints came one after another.

The only ones who didn’t say anything were Ainoya-san and a few others…

The reaction was as expected …, but there is something sad about being confronted with it again.

I also have regrets about what I was doing until this happened…

<“I’m sure you have your own opinions about Towa. Just leave it to me for a little while.”>

Well, in the end, thanks to Kenichi’s words, everyone grudgingly agreed … “If Kato would take the lead.”

“Towa-kun? Are you okay?”

“Hmm, it’s okay”

“…That Nakamaru-san is a member of the same gymnastics committee as me, isn’t he?”

“Yes, he is. Unlike Kenichi, he is a serious, civilized, and martial arts type of person. He looks good with glasses.”

“I see, I knew it… Then, I’m going to give him a good beating.”

“Yes, wait a minute, Rin.”

I grabbed Rin’s hand as she was about to get up and leave, and shook my head “No”.

Then Rin reluctantly sat down.

Rin these days seemed to be very quarrelsome or something.

It’s dangerous…

I guessed she had a bit of a temper.

“Rin, I’m glad you’re upset for me, but it’s not worth making my position worse by doing that.”

“But if I don’t convey the good qualities of… Towa-kun, everyone will be very judgmental and…”

“It can’t be helped. People’s impressions don’t change so easily.”

“But…”

“It’s okay. I deserved what I got up to now, and besides … just having someone who understands a little bit is okay, you understand, people.”

Everyone has a need for approval.

We all want to be accepted by everyone.

But for me, I don’t need much.

I want to do my best for them, even if it’s not much.

I looked at Rin and looked her straight in the eyes.

“I do what I have to do, don’t worry. I’m still a strong person when it comes to negativity.”

“But…”

“…Tokiwagi-kun. Rin is worried, because she’s always…”

“Kotone-chan…?”

“… Ugh, it’s nothing. Forget it, chicken.”

“Chicken, hey …. I mean, Fuji-san, on the contrary, I’d be concerned if you cut it off right then and there…”

“Koo…. well, Towa-kun, what competition are you going to compete in?”

“The way you go off on a tangent is too much… well, if you don’t want to talk about it, that’s fine.”

Is there something hard to say?

Since it’s Rin, I’m sure it’s something shady…

I should ask Fuji-san secretly when Rin is not around.

I can’t be alone with her, so of course I’ll ask Kenichi to be present.

If I decide to do so, I should just let the conversation flow and change the subject for now.

I’d better not let Rin realize my intention to ask her, since she is very perceptive and keen on such things.

“Hmmm, come to think of it, Kenichi. You decide the competitions in our class, right? Has it been decided?”

“Oh! It’s already decided in my heart~ Towa will go to baseball! That’s the best thing.”

“Huh!?!?”

My voice attracted the eyes of the people around me.

I reacted too surprised and my voice got louder…

Participating in baseball is reckless for an … amateur, isn’t it?

I don’t dislike watching it per se, but…

“Towa-kun’s homerun, I’m counting on you!”

“No, no, of course you can’t!”

“Is that so?”

Why is she tilting her head adorably.

Look at my ineffective arm, no matter how you think about it, the ball won’t fly to the outfield.

Besides…

“First of all, a beginner can’t hit a ball with such a thin bat. There is no way I could catch a ball when I defend. Even if I run, I’m not suited to someone who is full of holes in every aspect of … running, offense and defense.”

“The … chicken is weak. It’s impossible.”

Hey. Fuji-san.

I’m also hurt when you say it straight…?

It’s true, but…!

” Well, I’ll make sure to give Towa a role in training. For now, when you go to bat, you should be bent over, and your clothes must be loose to increase the surface area around your abdomen.”

“Hey… That’s not aiming for a dead ball, is it?”

“Haha. No way, it’s not like that~”

“Ouch! Don’t hit me on the back, that’s stupid stuff.”

The dead ball strategy is really a figure of speech…?

Something about the way Kenichi whistled without making eye contact … or rather, the way he whistled so well!

” Yes, Kenichi. I’m ashamed to say it myself, but I don’t know anything about exercise, and I think there’s a good chance I’d be useless in planning a strategy with Kenichi, you know? Besides, I’m not very good at sports to begin with.”

“Haha. I knew you’d say that. The strategy is to be followed up on. The organizers, who work in places you can’t see, also play an active role.”

“I understand what you’re saying, but … do we have to do it now?”

“Kenichi, you’re supposed to be a member of the sports festival committee, aren’t you? Won’t they frown at me if I join them now?”

“I won’t join the sports festival committee. Even if I get involved.”

“Then what?”

“I would like to ask Towa to be a first-aid team member and a chore attendant. You see, it’s a sports festival, so there’s a lot of preparation, not to mention cleaning up afterwards, and on the day of the festival, after all, there are a lot of injuries. So, the person in charge of that duty will be on hand at each event to keep an eye on things and watch out for any sudden injuries, right?”

“Certainly, it’s a tough time to be in the public eye if something goes wrong. If we fail to take precautions, we will be blamed…”

“That’s the point! Besides… you’d notice a lot of things, wouldn’t you?”

“I see… I see… I don’t want to expect too much, but …, well, Kenichi is taking care of me and I’ll give you a break. If I do that, I won’t have to compete so much, will I?”

“You’ll only need one! You’ll be the teacher’s errand boy.”

“Then I’ll have to do even more.”

I’m used to doing chores part-time, so I guess it’s not a problem.

It’s the perfect role for me on the day of the event, to keep a low profile and work hard.

It’s much better than showing up in a sporting contest and looking pathetic.

Well, Kenichi seemed to have other purposes.

I glanced at Kenichi, and he smirked for a moment.

His eyes seemed to say, “You got it.”

“The rest is just Towa. If this works, even if you have a negative image now, when it turns into a positive one, it will create such an impact that heaven and earth will be turned upside down, you know? It’s like doing a chore worth a thousand miles. The strategy from here on is titled, ‘The Brilliant Performance of Towa Tokiwagi, a Bad Man’.”

“Don’t give it a weird nickname…”

I laughed at the terrible strategy name.

I’d like to see a better name for it…

“I like it! I’ll cooperate too!”

“No, Wakamiya is banned.”

“… Rin is no good. You should leave this to Kenichi.”

“Eh!? Why!?!?”

“Wakamiya tends to go out of control when it comes to Towa.”

“…Yeah. The runaway locomotive doesn’t know how to stop.”

“You’re not very good at listening to people! I’m calm and composed at all times.”

“””……………Huh?”””

“What’s with that disappointed look in your eyes! Oh, even Towa-kun … such~…”

Rin sagged and slumped down like a pooch who failed at a trick.

Although I can’t see anything, I can almost hear the “zoon” the sound effect, her shoulders slumped.

“Well, seriously, if Towa himself doesn’t move and show himself… it won’t change. If Wakamiya-san continues to act, all he will do is say, ‘Wakamiya-san, you’re doing a great job.'”

“… Rin stands out, for better or worse. The chicken should be independent and flap its wings.”

“Chickens don’t fly, though.”

“No need to… lighten up. Chicken has everyone’s attention now that the second semester has started. So now is your chance. Don’t miss it.”

“That’s what I’m talking about, Towa. That’s why, Wakamiya-san, please understand.”

I said, “I’ll do my best.” and scratched my head.

It’s true that, as Fuji-san said, since the beginning of the second semester, I’ve been getting a lot of attention.

So, if I take advantage of that attention, I might be able to build new relationships and change the way people evaluate me.

Kenichi probably wants to take advantage of the attention while I’m in the spotlight in order to step up my game.

Rin, perhaps knowing this, nodded her head and gave the impression that she was convinced.

“I understand… I’ll be quiet. I’m just bothered that I can’t do anything about it and I’m… a little frustrated.”

“What do you mean by frustrated?”

“But I don’t want to disturb Towa-kun… I’ll be patient… so this much is okay for now, right?”

Rin said this and laid her head on my lap.

She smiled happily, but her cheeks were reddish, perhaps feeling somewhat embarrassed.

If she’s embarrassed, there’s no need to force it.

But I find her straightness charming.

I gently stroked Rin’s head as she moved her head around, demanding more.

“Knee pillows are hard for men…”

“I am satisfied with this.”

“… Rin is like a cat, really.”

“Ehehe~ I like being petted by Towa-kun, so much that all my negative emotions are blown away.”

“Well, if this level is enough… anytime…”

“Really? I’ve got your word. I won’t hold back.”

“In moderation.”

Refusal won’t stop her, and I have no intention of stopping her anymore.

I’d rather nibble on this time I have now than worry about what’s going on around me.

If I’m going to worry about bad things, I should just make an effort to live off of them.

This is where I stand now, without trust, so I have no choice but to turn things upside down as Kenichi told me to …

–For the sake of Rin, who favors me.

I may have matured enough in my mind to think that way.

I looked up at the sky and smiled a little, finding it strangely funny that I could afford to be so optimistic.

“Don’t forget that this is the courtyard. Didn’t they hear that?”

“…Kenichi, Tokiwagi-kun is the only one with a good mood… not fair.”

“That means I should pet Kotone, too… I hate it. I wish I had a spirit of steel too…”

I thought I heard Kenichi and the others talking like that from my side.

——Let’s not worry about it now and respond to her request for more petting.