CH 14

Episode 14: “Promised Victory”

“How pathetic of you to refuse the challenge! Nanami-san, you’re not suitable to be with a coward like him! If you’re not a coward, then accept the challenge!”

With the shout from senpai, I managed to break free from my stupor.

“What are you doing all of a sudden, Nanami-san!? If you’re blushing and feeling embarrassed, you don’t have to do it. But it’s so cute when you turn away!”

…Alright, let’s first deal with my senior and calm the mood.

“Senpai, this isn’t some old drama where we bet a girlfriend in a match. Besides, what matters is Nanami-san’s feelings, right? Moreover, it makes no sense for a senpai who has been rejected once to ignore that and compete only between us…”

“Don’t talk sense! Understand that sometimes speaking the truth can hurt more than insults!”

He knows it’s the right thing to say, doesn’t he? He’s such a self-centered senpai.

This person is Shouichi Shibetsu, the captain of the basketball club. Even I know that he’s a well-known player and one of the handsome guys who got rejected by Nanami-san.

He probably challenged me to a match in a sportsman like manner when he heard that I started dating her… But I don’t see any benefits for me to accept the challenge.

Even if this person doesn’t acknowledge it, Nanami-san and I will continue dating. I don’t want to treat Nanami-san like some prize and hand her over to someone who sees her as a reward.

Even though we’re in a punishment game and she’s my girlfriend, Nanami-san is still my girlfriend.

And I have to make her like me. I don’t have time to worry about unnecessary things.

So, I’ll say it again, there’s no meaning for me to accept this challenge.

Well… the downside of losing is too big, and if I had a normal mindset, there’s no way I would accept such a match.

Why did he think I would accept it? This senior…

“Let’s go, Youshin.”

“Yeah.”

As Nanami-san’s blushing subsided, we tried to return to the classroom, but the senpai yelled angrily from behind.

“Ah! Wait a minute!! What does Nanami see in this small and plain guy?! At least, in terms of looks, I’m better, aren’t I?”

Being told that, I don’t have any words to retort.

Certainly, this senpai… he has a pretty handsome face. Like a model.

When he says I’m small and plain, it’s not an insult or anything, he’s just stating the facts.

If we were to stand side by side, 10 out of 10 people would choose the senpai. It’s such a desperate difference in attractiveness. So, I don’t particularly feel angry.

…However, Nanami-san got furious at the senpai’s words.

“If you insult Youshin any further, I’ll end our friendship with you! I won’t even acknowledge you if you talk to me at school! Youshin is a much better guy than you, senpai! I hate people like you who say such things!”

Oh… Nanami-san shouting with such anger… and it’s for my sake… It somehow makes me happy…

But then, Senpai collapsed from his knees. He’s tall, so the sound that echoed around indicates a more serious damage to his knees compared to an average person.

“Hate….? You hate me?! Nanami-san… you hate me…”

“During the confession, Senpai was only looking at my chest, wasn’t he? I know it!althought at morning Youshin also….”

Nanami-san’s words pause for a moment.

Perhaps she remembered that I saw her chest quite a bit this morning. …I’m sorry, Nanami-san.

“It didn’t happen!”

She said it firmly!

Nanami-san declared that the incident this morning didn’t happen.

While Senpai was on the ground with a despairing expression, I stuck my tongue out at Nanami-san for just a moment, like a mischievous child, without paying attention to him.

I’m not sure if it’s in response to the lie I told or a protest against me accidentally seeing her chest…

Even though she forgave me, I feel bad for Nanami-san, who is uncomfortable around men… But it can’t be helped, right? Humans tend to look at moving objects.

Nanami-san tried to leave, but as Senpai desperately lifts his face with a despairing expression, I hurriedly moved between them, crouching down to be at the same eye level as Senpai.

“Nanami-san, cutting ties completely would be going too far, right? Aren’t we friends, to some extent? Well, I guess… I’m a bit worried having such a cool male friend like him around Nanami-san… Honestly, it makes me jealous. I don’t want you to get involved, but… I think it would be a bit pitiful for Senpai.”

“Oh… Youshin Misumai-kun…”

Senpai, with tears streaming down his face, shifts his gaze towards me. Yes, it’s good. Senpai’s gaze is directed at me.

If he had lifted his face as it was, Nanami-san’s skirt would have been fully exposed.

I still haven’t seen it… No, that’s not it.

I feel relieved that Nanami-san didn’t have to go through the embarrassment of having her skirt seen.

“…If Youshin says so… I won’t cut ties completely… But I haven’t given you my contact information, so you can rest assured.”

Nanami-san pouts her lips slightly, seemingly sulking. Did I make her upset by defending him…? Hmm… What should I say in times like this?

Clever words are a high hurdle for me… For now, let’s just praise Nanami-san honestly.

“Yeah, thank you, Nanami-san. You’re really kind, after all. I’m relieved about the contact information too.”

“…Did you fall for me again?”

From her slightly sulking face, she tilts her head and smiles at me, showing her beautiful teeth.

…I feel like I just took a strong counterpunch. It’s not a bad feeling, but what would be the correct response here…

“Yeah, that’s right, I fell for you again…”

“Hmph, it seems you’re a bit confident… I’ll acknowledge it to some extent. However, I can’t fully acknowledge it. Prove to me that you’re a man worthy of her by competing against me.”

Just as I was about to gather my resolve and speak, Senpai seemed to have recovered and stood up.

I sighed while looking up at him. It seems Nanami-san felt the same way as me, as our sighs synchronized perfectly.

It was such a great opportunity to say something clever to Nanami-san…

“So? What kind of competition are we talking about?”

“It’ll be a three-point shootout. I serve as the captain of the basketball club. A 10-shot showdown is a tradition in our club.”

Ugh, how dirty…

The captain of the basketball club challenging someone to a basketball competition. I’ve only had a little experience with basketball in class, and the rest of my knowledge comes from manga…

Nanami-san also looked at Senpai with a bewildered expression. She probably didn’t expect him to propose such a competition.

But… it seems like Senpai won’t settle unless the competition is accepted. I can’t help it… I don’t want him to come again tomorrow either…

“Alright… Senpai… I’ll accept the competition, but I have three conditions. Since I’m a beginner in basketball, it’s fair, right?”

“Hm? Of course. I can give you as many handicaps as you want. Just tell me.”

Then I want him to not challenge me in his own strong field from the beginning… Well, even if I say that, it might be pointless with this guy.

He’s probably… an idiot. I don’t really want to say it because he’s my senpai, but he’s an idiot. ( TLN: lmao)

So, before I state the conditions, he agrees… Well, he seems confident that he won’t lose because he’s in the basketball club.

For now, I’ve obtained his consent.

“First… Please show me about 10… no, 20 examples of your shots. Then, let me take the first shot.”

“Very well.”

“Second… If I make even one shot, consider it my victory. I’ve never even attempted a three-point shot before. On the other hand, Senpai… yes, if you make all 10 shots, consider it your victory. How about that?”

“Ah, that’s fine,being a handicap beginner that’s natural.”

“Lastly, the third condition… Regardless of the outcome of the three-point shots, let Nanami-san herself decide the final result of the competition.”

“Of course, that’s fine!! I’ll gracefully make all 10 shots and have her choose me!!”

Senpai, who had completely recovered, left this place with a lightness that didn’t match his huge figure.

He probably went to the gymnasium. There’s still time during lunch break, so let’s finish the competition within the afternoon.

The time I spend with Nanami-san will decrease, but there’s no helping it.

“Youshin… Is it okay? To have a competition… and on top of that, a three-point shootout?”

“Yeah, it’s okay, Nanami-san. To be honest… I’m a bit angry with Senpai for treating you like a prize. So, just relax and enjoy watching my pathetic three-point shots.”

“But… if you lose, I…”

To reassure her, I placed my hand on her shoulder. She trembled slightly when I touched her, but then she raised her face.

Oops, I accidentally touched her, but… was that a bad move?

Oh, wait, why is Nanami-san putting her cheek on the back of my hand…?

Wow, her skin is so soft… Wait, focus on what I was saying.

“No, I made a condition. Regardless of the outcome of the match, you get to decide what happens. Well, unless Senpai manages to impress you by making all the three-point shots… but that’s unlikely, right?”

…That’s not going to happen, right?

As I expressed my slight concern internally, Nanami-san seemed to ponder for a moment, then clapped her hands together.

“Oh, I see what you mean…”

“Yeah, well… Senpai probably only remembers the words he said at the beginning, ‘If I win the match, I get Nanami-san.’ That guy, sorry to say, but he seems a bit foolish.”

“Yeah… He’s amazing when it comes to basketball, though.”

“I guess so… Alright, let’s go to the gym.”

I reached out my hand to Nanami.

Surprised by my gesture, she slowly took my hand. And then, the two of us walked hand in hand to the gym.

When we arrived at the gym, I noticed that Senpai was looking at us with a mixture of envy and resentment. It was a little amusing.

Our gazes were fixed on our joined hands. I know it’s not the best part of my personality, but… a little psychological impact should be fine.

And then, I confronted Senpai with his jealous eyes and proceeded with the three-point shooting match. Of course, under the same conditions as before. He obediently accepted my challenge according to my words.

And the result was…

Senpai collapsed to the ground, just like before, his knees giving way, his hands touching the floor.

“Foolish… Am I really… I lost?”

“Yeah… I won, Senpai. Nanami-san is my girlfriend… Can you accept that?”

Still frustrated, Senpai couldn’t bring himself to go back on what he had said earlier. He looked bewildered, switching his gaze between my face and Nanam-san’s face,and then, he smirked slightly, a bit nihilistically.

“Well, Misumai-kun… and barato Nanami… You two make a good couple. Damn it, it’s frustrating.”

In the end, Senpai, with a sportsman-like demeanor, congratulated us, wearing a smile.

Seeing that smile, I felt a bit ashamed of my rather dirty tactics, but well, he did challenge us out of the blue, so let’s consider it a fair trade-off.

We tightly shook hands, and the people around us cheered with excitement.

Interlude : At that moment, Nanami

We… We make a good couple… What should I do? Even though it’s something Senpai said, I’m really happy.

I wonder if we really do look good together? I wonder… I hope Youshin also feels happy about it…