Chapter 18

“Ok, so we’re going to be holding the matches based on a schedule I’ve organized prior to today~”

Gouda-sensei shouted his instructions in his characteristic loud voice that he was known for.

“Alright, I’m gonna go and tell Gouda-sensei about this.”

“Wait, Shi―Suda-kun. What are you going to tell him?”

“I’ll tell him that you injured your arm, and that you won’t be able to play in the matches due to that.”

“But if you do that, weird rumors are going to spread about you, Suda-kun. They might say that you’re the one who caused my injury, or something like that.”

“Then it wouldn’t be the first time that something like that’s happened to me. I don’t really care about it anyways.”

“But I care about it. Don’t say such selfish things and let’s just go and play our match together. Okay?”

“Why are you trying to persuade me to play now… And what are you going to do if your arm gets worse? That would cause me problems too.”

“Then, I’ll just run around the court and pretend that I’m playing badminton. Suda-kun, you’ll just have to hit the shuttlecock back at the enemy. Don’t lose, okay?”

“You’re just spouting nonsense at this point.”

I decided that I’d follow her vague instructions.

I wanted to appreciate her efforts for at least trying to stand on the court.

Besides, if I make her unhappy here, and she stops coming to band practice because of this, then that’d be problematic for us.

“I’m looking forward to our match.”

“Ah, it’s the Kitarou pair! Good luck~”

I matched up against a pair of flashy boys who looked really athletic.

Shiina-san, I won’t be able to do this alone.

Even though I glanced at her, trying to convey that message through our eyes, she just gazed back at me with an expectant look in her eyes.

Damn it, fine! I’ll do it myself!

I’ll show you what a diligent student like me can do!

“Hah… hah… cough!”

“Hah… hah… Kitarou, I didn’t know that you were this good at badminton…”

I just barely lost to the two of them.

Also, Shiina was just staring at me blankly as she stood completely still during the entire match.

What happened to your plan of “pretending to play badminton”?

“Hah… hah… Sorry, it looks like I lost the match.”

“It’s fine, I enjoyed watching Shion in action up close.”

“You’re speaking as if I’m some rare animal to view at a zoo.”

The next match was… a pair of girls, huh.

Thank goodness, it looks like it’s going to be easier than the earlier match at least.

“I’m gonna head to the toilet for a bit.”

“I’ll go along with you.”

“Why do girls always want to go to the toilet with me? Don’t follow me to the men’s toilet alright?”

“Okay, fine.”

“What the hell’s even going on now…”

I left Shiina, whose mysterious behavior reached its peak, and went to the bathroom.

“…Hey, that Shiina girl is really irritating, isn’t she?”

“That hot guy, Hayasaka, even asked her to pair up with him, but she just turned him down like everyone else.”

“And she didn’t even have a partner in the first place. It’s like she’s trying to show off to everybody.”

“Well, the fact that she eventually ended up with Kitarou because of her haughty attitude is hilarious LOL.”

I heard some girls speaking ill of Shiina from inside the girls’ restroom.

I’m glad she didn’t come with me.

Well, it is Shiina we’re talking about, so I’m sure she wouldn’t give a crap about it either way.

“What’s more is that, she didn’t even have the willingness to actually play in the matches with that guy.”

“Don’t get carried away just because you’re a little cute, you grade schooler.”

“Her body is so small, it’s like she’s malnourished or something LOL!”

“Kyahaha, that’s just hilarious ROFL!”

Don’t be silly, she’s actually a big glutton, you know?

Sometimes I’d get some cake as a treat during break times at work, but if I left it half-eaten on the table, it’d be gone by the time I returned.

Well, I say that, but there were other members besides Shiina who also ate my cake occasionally…

Wiping my hands with my handkerchief, I went back to the gym where Shiina was waiting for me.