Chapter 32Ā ā The Sports Festival and the Odd-JobberĀ and the Staying Over (5)
Now then, the Izumino Gakuen Ballgame Tournament has arrived.
Refreshing youths brought out everything they honed in the practice till now as they perspired, aiming for victory as they bore teamwork within their hands.
Looking at such youths, I thought. The Student Councilās odd-jobber is truly a dreadful position, which all sorts of odd jobs are entrusted to.
From the Student Councilās odd jobs and assistance of the Health Committee members, to assistance of the Sports Committee members who organised the Ballgame Tournament and so on. Odd jobs for all of them. Rushing over like a gopher once Iām called, and toiling like a cart-horse.
Honestly, itās tough to complete the odd jobs, but itās much better than having to appear more than necessary in the ballgames Iām poor at.
āSakuraić¼, if youāre free, help with carrying thisć¼.ā
āDo I look like Iām free, Hasumi?ā
Iām currently babysitting the infirmary as a Health Committee member.
There was a shortage of personnel because the original Health Committee members left to participate in their respective matches. Thus the one selected to replace them was I, the odd-jobber.
The work of a Health Committee member was fairly hectic.
Despite that, this Hasumi seemed to have come all the way to the infirmary just to push odd jobs to me.
With both hands full holding huge boxes, she grinned. Even though Hasumiās extremely kind towards Mitsuki, sheās extremely severe towards me, Mitsukiās brother.
According to Subaru, it appears Hasumi a.k.a. Hasumi Yuiko is the rival character on Soutarou and Kanameās route.
Certainly if you ask whether the boyish and lively Hasumi, resembles Bakumatsu Shishi Girlsā Takasugi Sakura who Soutarou said he liked, then yes, she does.
Though thereās no such signs at all at this point, thereās no harm being on the lookout. Besides, she could be a repeat of Madoka.
āPeople like Health Committee members are free when no one comes, right. In other words, youāre free right now, yes?ā
She nonchalantly passed me the box that contains table tennis rackets.
Moreover thereās about 20 rackets inside. Itās moderately heavy, to think Hasumi managed to carry both boxes.
āWell, Iām free butć¼ā
Certainly Iām free but, I donāt think itās right to leave the infirmary completely vacant.
However, well, itās not far to the gymnasium from here, so wouldnāt it be fine to vacate for a while? There shouldnāt be any problem if I leave quickly and return quickly. Itās not good to let a girl carry such heavy things, and if I were a girl Iād like some help carrying these.
I adjusted my grip of the box, drawing nearer towards Hasumiās direction.
āGot it. Iāll help. Just a bit, okay.ā
āAs expected of Sakurai~. Kind~!ā
āIām an ikemen only at heart after all. Hasumi, you can put the box over there on topĀ too.ā
For some reason all around me are no one but sparkly men, so I have to at least be an ikemen at heart.
Thatās precisely: appearing dashingly with a refreshing smile like the hero of a shoujo manga, carrying himself with ease. Iām female precisely at heart but, now that Iām living as a male, I do want to be at least a little popular with girls.
Like this, as a guy, I wonder how it feels to getĀ kyahkyahād at by girls. Ā Now that Iāve become a guy, Iād think of wanting to be told āSakurai-kun, so cool,Ā kyah kyahā by cute girls.
āThatās true huh. Thereās no one but ikemen whoāre at a level where theyāre hard to compete with, around Sakurai after all.ā
āDoes Hasumi, as expected, prefers ikemen too? Like Soutarou or Kaname?ā
Itās a chance to hear what she thinks of Soutarou and Kaname, in this natural course of events.
Well then, Hasumi, how will you reply?
I casually examined Hasumiās expression as we walked in the corridor. Hasumiās face flushed faintly as she looked in my direction.
āAh, ehhā¦ā¦ Iām not too concerned about stuff like looks. Besides, right now itās more fun to play around with friendsā¦ā¦.ā
Judging from this reaction I think it doesnāt feel like sheās become Mitsukiās rival yet. Good good.
It could be that Hasumi hasnāt moved into the rival position as Mitsuki hasnāt entered Soutarouās route orĀ Kanameās route. Thank goodness. After all, Hasumi and Mitsuki are good friends. Itāll definitely be saddening if someone youāre on good terms with suddenly turns into your rival.
I donāt want Mitsuki to weather sad feelings. I wish for Mitsuki to live a fun high school life. To that effect, I increasingly want Mitsuki to progress on Princeās route.
Thereās no problem stopping with the love stories since I already heard what I want from Hasumi, but as it doesnāt feel right to chop the conversation abruptly, I decided to continue with the harmless love stories for the time being.
āI see. But youāve a type you like and so on right?ā
āEh! U-un. Thatās, IĀ amĀ a girl after all?ā
For some reason Hasumi blushed, and started getting worked up.
To be embarrassed over something like love stories, even Hasumi has a girly side huh, I secretly thought such impolite things.
āA girl, only on the outside?ā
Iāll tease you a little, I thought as I grinned.
Hasumi knitted her brows like she was sullen, as she poked my side.
āShut up. Itās because Sakuraiās like this that you arenāt popular.ā
āItās okay. Even if Iām not popular, someday Iāll get a cute girlfriend whoās delicate and petite.ā
If I do get a girlfriend, a soft, cute and healing type of girl would be good. A girl whoās petite and like a small animal, causing one to want to protect her, is good.
Well, though in truth Iāve absolutely no intention of having a lover in this world.
After all, I donāt know how long Iāll be here. It could be till March next year in accordance to the gameās scenario, or I mayĀ end up having to live here for life, or I may return to the real world when I wake up tomorrow.
To have a special and important someone despite being such an existence, I canāt do such an irresponsible thing. Itāll just be painful for both parties that way.
āSakurai likes cute girls donāt you? If itās the Bakumatsu Shishi Girls, someone like Katsura Koharu.ā
āEh, ah, un. How did Hasumi, know that I like Katsura Koharu?ā
āI heard from Tsubaki. How is it, are girls like Katsura Koharu your type?ā
Bakumatsu Shishi Girlsā Katsura Koharu is certainly cute.
Sheās a 152cm tall and weighing 36kg, slender, small-chested and baby-faced small-animal type female. Sheās a girl who seems like sheāll suit soft, pink, lavish frills.
Saying sheās my type may make me sound les but, well, I think sheās a girl so cute that even the hearts of girls would thump.
āI see. As I thought, guys do like cute girls.ā
Hasumi seemed to be mulling over something, looking down as she made a complicated face.
I wonder whatās wrong. Itās just a possibility but, could it be, Hasumi likes me or somethingā¦ā¦Nah, it canāt be. Hasumiās the rival character when you capture Soutarou and Kaname yāknow. No way, no way. Thereās no way, no way Hasumi likes me.
Itās me being too self-conscious huh. Hahaha, how embarrassing.
Hasumi and I finally reached the 1st gymnasium, and we lowered the boxes that contained the table tennis rackets.
āAh! Itās Mako-chan and Hasumić¼. Yo there!ā
āAh, Kaname, yo. How was your match?ā
āDuh! Iām the overall champion yāknow~, or at least Iād like to say, but unfortunately Iām in the best 8. As expected the 3rd-years are strong, man.ā
I was busy with the odd jobs, and couldnāt cheer for Kaname at all.
But this is the substantially high specs Kaname. He likely played a huge role even in the basketball match. Heās slightly short for playing basketball, but he possesses skill that doesnāt let you feel so. Enough that I, whoās poor with ballgames, feel envious.
āEven the best 8 is amazing. Itās the best 8 out of 24 classes after all. Youāve worked hard.ā
Izumino Gakuenās Normal Department consists of 5 classes from A to E, and besides that, there are the Special Class, English Special Class and Mathematics Special Class.
If itās the best 8 out of 24 classes, I believe itās quite an excellent result. I wanted to see Kaname play an active role.
āOu. Mako-chan too, all the best for volleyball. I, will come cheer you on! Hasumi will come and cheer too right~ā
āUn, Iāll come cheer you on along with Mitsuki. Sakurai, all the best.ā
Not to mention playing an active role, Iāll definitely end up weighing everyone down.
No matter how much I practised with Soutarou, I didnāt become able to play ballgames at all. Not to mention that, I didnāt even improve a tiny bit. Despite practising that much, not even a bit.
I can only think that Iāve no ability to play ballgames.
āAh, un, Iāll do my best.ā
āAh, Mako! Did you come to cheer us on?ā
Soutarou rushed over with a full-faced smile.
In the area Soutarou appeared to have been at until a while ago, wereĀ kyahkyah-ing girls who appeared to be his fans.
Surely, they clamoured āTsubaki-kun, so cool!ā, āSo dreamy!ā as they watched him play an active role. Sheesh, itās enough to make one envious.
āOh, Soutarou, you worked hard.ā
āVolleyballās in the afternoon, right. Letās do our best together.ā
To think Iāve no choice but to participate in the volleyball match later, sheesh how depressing.
āU-unā¦ā¦ Ah, un, Iāll do ma best. Well then, the Health Committee member me will return to the infirmary.ā
SpeakingĀ in a fake Kansai dialect, I left for the infirmary hurriedly.
āEh, Mako, wait.ā
I donāt want to participate in the volleyball match. I donāt want to participate but Iāve no choice but to do so.
Itās precisely because I know itās useless no matter how much I grumble, that Iāve to calm my heart. Thatās why, letās take it easy in the quiet infirmary.
Since it seems Iāll be crushed by various kinds of pressure if I remain here. Iām happy for their support, but it seems a little like Iāll be unable to bear this pressure anymore.
As I headed to the infirmary in a quick pace, Soutarou who followed behind grabbed my hand, holding me back.
It was just right beforeĀ the infirmary.
āMako! Mako, wait. Um, you know!ā
āWhatās up, Soutarou? Did you get hurt?ā
āThatās not itā¦ā¦ Itās just that I was thinkingĀ Mako seems to be hurting over something, so I ended up chasing after you.ā
Soutarou lowered his head as though he was embarrassed.
āā¦ā¦Soutarou.ā
He may be a scaredy-cat, gets lonely easily, and is undiscerning at times, but he always carries a warm heart. Heās a good guy whoāll offer his hand when I want a hand to reach out to me.
āIt could just be a misunderstanding on my part though.ā
āNah, ā¦ā¦ thanks. As I thought, Soutarou is kind. I feel incredibly relieved.ā
As I thought, the aura Soutarouās wrapped in is kind. I can feel my face which was acting strong gradually fall apart.
Soutarou sure is magnanimous. Itāll be good if someone like Soutarouās my onii-chan.
I want to become a person who Mitsuki will think of that way. For that purpose, too, I want to aim to be that kind of onii-chan.
Soutarouās eyes widened in shock, and he laughed as though he was embarrassed.
āUn, Iām happy Mako feels that way.ā
Soutarou strengthened his grip on my hand.
āJust like how Mako always comes to save me, just like how I save Mako, ā¦ā¦ Even for the volleyball this time, Iāll save Mako.ā
The smile this time was one in which dog ears and tail did not spring up. Itās one like a hero from an otome gameās. Itās a little embarrassing.
āThough I canāt do ballgames by any means, Iāll work hard the best I can.ā
I probably canāt contribute much. Nah, rather than āprobablyā, itās ādefinitelyā canāt contribute much.
Thereās no point getting nervous since I canāt do it anyway. If I go at it the best I can, Soutarou will probably come save me when I reach a really painful point.
Soutarou is, always my ally without fail, and always comes to save me. I believe heāll definitely not lie.
Nah, letās say heĀ doesĀ betray me, Iāll likely accept it if thatās the case. Because there should definitely be some reason for Soutarou to do such a thing.
I wonder whyĀ I trust him this much despite having known each other for a mere several months.