[LN] Kanojo ni Uwaki Sareteita Ore ga - Volume 1 - Chapter 7

 

Chapter 7 - Circle Activities

Shinohara, who was waiting at the entrance to the gymnasium, jumped happily as I approached.

"There's something so nice and exciting about the smell of a gymnasium."

The circle members around us look at us with interest.

Everyone is clearly aware of Shinohara, with the better basketball players using more fancy tricks than usual before shooting.

Shinohara's presence is so strong that just being next to him makes me fidget. He is just bouncing around.

In the lobby, there is a staircase leading to the second floor.

Let's take him there and have Shinohara go upstairs.

As I stepped forward in the direction of the stairs, Shinohara followed me toddling along.

"Where are you going?"

"Upstairs."

I say, and the sleeves are pulled back with a jerk.

I turned around to see Shinohara looking up at me in frustration.

"It's too far from there. I'd like to watch the game from nearby. Can't I?"

Apparently, they were aware of the second floor.

The gymnasium that "start" rents for its activities is a municipal one, and its courts are as large as those of a university gymnasium.

The strength of the municipal gymnasium is the expansive view of the court from the second floor seats, which should be perfect for watching the games.

I tilt my head back in my mind at Shinohara, who complains in spite of this.

"On the ground floor, there's hardly any room to watch the game, and if a ball or something comes flying in, it's dangerous."

"But it's very powerful. You have to watch basketball up close."

Even as he says this, Shinohara's eyes turn in an unexpected direction.

It's not so much that he's lying, but that he's not even trying to hide his lies.

"Any other reasons?"

When I asked, Shinohara looked miffed for a moment and then exhaled.

"...... you'll miss it."

"What about?"

"'I miss being thrown upstairs by myself! I hate acting alone in anything!"

"You're talking about me in middle school!"

"Whatever you say!"

Shinohara turns away with a huff.

I was taken aback by the sight.

An outstandingly cute college student in a trendy trench coat and with a great attention to her hair.

He has such an appearance, but he has many pure parts.

"Then you should join us. You can participate without permission except on the day of the tournament."

The atmosphere at "start" is so relaxed that you can participate even if you have no experience.

Since the girls' practice clothes are available for loan and "start" was selling the newcomers on how fun it is for beginners, there should be no problem.

But Shinohara's face clouded at my suggestion.

Hm?" What's the matter, you like basketball, don't you?"

"Well, yes. Yes."

Looking at Shinohara, whose answer was muddled, I could tell that he was not too keen on the idea.

So, even in the same basketball game, there is a difference between watching a game and playing in a real game. It's only natural if you think about it.

If that is the case, we can't just ask them out without a fight.

The best outcome for both parties would be to return to the ground floor and let them watch the game as Shinohara said.

There is space on the court side. The problem is the presence of other circle members, but, well, Shinohara doesn't seem to be worried about that.

"I'll be right downstairs to watch. Don't get hurt by the flying balls."

When I said this, Shinohara's face lit up and she said, "Thank you!" and bowed his head.

Since I did not do anything special, I felt embarrassed when they bowed their heads to me.

"Just say it."

"Ehehe."

Shinohara beams with happiness, and I relax my mouth too.

I too was too lazy to do everything alone during my middle and high school years.

Always talking and playing with friends.

Being with like-minded friends is fun in itself, but on the other hand, if you are alone, you don't know how to kill your free time.

But once he became a college student, his sensibilities naturally changed.

Now I can go to karaoke by myself, but not when I was in middle and high school.

It was embarrassing.

I don't want anyone to see me, and I wonder what the waiter thinks of me coming alone.

I had the feeling then that I was being watched by such an unspecified number of people.

But that too will shift.

While walking the streets or working part-time. I rarely take an interest in others I pass by, and even when I do, it rarely lasts.

When I eventually realized that the idea was not unique to me, but the same for many others, the feeling of being watched disappeared cleanly.

Something that you would naturally notice if you had some alone time.

Eventually, Shinohara's sensibilities will change.

"I knew you were younger than me."

I know a hundred times that Shinohara is younger than me.

But there are not many opportunities to feel it again.

Shinohara responded to my unspoken words with a frustrated look on her face.

"What is that? Did it make me look old?"

"Ha-ha-ha, that's not what I meant."

Amused, he puts his palm on Shinohara's head, and Shinohara lets out a high pitched "hiya" sound.

At the moment, I recall the response Shinohara took to Motosaka. On Christmas Day, Shinohara had wickedly shaken off Motosaka's hand.

I immediately retract my hand and apologize, saying I'm sorry.

"Huh?"

Shinohara had an expression of not knowing what he was talking about, but eventually he realized and smiled unconcernedly.

"I don't care if he's a senior."

"I'm glad to hear that. Well, that's good."

"Ah-ha, senpai adorable."

"Shut up!."

Somehow I could feel my face turning red, and I turned my back on Shinohara before he could realize what was happening.

I can see the look of satisfaction on their faces as they raise the corners of their mouths.

I feel like I've fallen for the little devil attitude for the first time.

As I was returning to the court without turning around, Todo appeared from the doorway.

In each hand hangs a bash that he would have worn a moment ago.

"Hey, what's up, you two?"

"Shinohara wants to watch the game on the first floor. Is that okay?"

In response to my question, Todo looked at Shinohara briefly and nodded.

"It's fine, that's all. People would rather be close to you."

"Thank you!"

Shinohara thanked him cheerfully. Shinohara bowed his head with a bow, to which Todo responded with a wave of his hand.

"Not at all. Since we're here, ...... I guess so. Shinohara-san, right? Come here for a minute."

"What is it?"

Todo, who seems to have come up with something, calls Shinohara.

I tried to follow Shinohara, but was stopped by Todo.

"You go and practice by yourself. It's too much trouble."

"What kind of trouble is that?"

"Haha, seniors are such troublesome characters!"

Shinohara laughs at my quip.

I don't remember being a troublesome character by any means, but the situation was relaxed, so let's call it good.

There is also the trust that Todo would not do anything poorly.

I walked away from them and into the gym court.

The nostalgic smell of non-slip wax greeted me.

◇◆

In my circle "start," most of the time is allocated for games.

Practice time is not being taken because there are no major goals.

If I had to name a goal, it would be to win a tournament among the university's basketball clubs and secure funds for drinking and training camps.

I just want to move my body and enjoy basketball.

Since people with such ideas gather together, it is inevitable that their activities will be match-centered.

Of course I'm one of them.

From the very beginning, I had no intention of joining a club in college. I had always longed for the campus life, and I saw the long hours of club activities as a burden.

However, as a member of the basketball team in junior high and high school, I was not willing to give up everything I had devoted myself to. It was not all fun and games, but I am the person I am today because of that time.

When I thought about it, my feet naturally went to basketball clubs during the new college student-inviting season.

Poke the ball lightly, recalling.

The ball bounced off the floor and settled into my palm as if absorbed.

I love the feeling of being able to leave my palm and come back to the place I envisioned.

As I dribble in small increments, enjoying the feel of the rough ball for the first time in a long time, I see a third grader approaching me.

I paused my dribbling and smiled.

"Hey, how have you been?"

"I'm fine. It's been a while."

He is approached and utters an exchange that I don't know how many times today.

After all, it has been a long time since I participated in an activity, and everyone calls out to me. I wonder if everyone knows that I broke up with my girlfriend. I don't feel bad about it.

It is probably much more burdensome to report your own breakup.

The ball settles in his right hand, and when he shoots it into the goal, it shoots a beautiful parabolic line and rocks the net. The moment when he scores a goal without snatching it from the ring remains pleasant even as a college student.

"Naishu!"

With a shout, the vision darkens.

"Whoa."

I peeled off the towel wrapped around my back and turned around to find Shinohara standing there with his hands on his hips, as I had expected.

The clothing has changed from plain clothes to jerseys.

"...... why the jersey?"

When I said this, Shinohara sniffed.

"What are the top situations with girls that athletic guys are attracted to? Do you know what the top-ranked situation with a girl that athletic guys long for? I'll give you a hint: Mane!"

"Mannequins and installations."

"What is the situation?"

Shinohara voiced her dissatisfaction, picked up the ball as it rolled away, and handed it to me with both hands.

"What's the right answer?"

"The right answer is to join a club with a cute manager. Please come back to life."

"One mistake and you're too harsh?"

He let the ball settle in his palm and shot again. This time, too, the ball was sucked into the net without making a sound.

"Isn't he really good?"

"You just happen to be in good shape."

In fact, a two-month blank period dulls one's shooting senses considerably. The shot I just took was just a fluke.

Suppressing the emotions that welled up at the first shot in a long time, I asked Shinohara a question.

"Did Todo ask you to be his manager?"

"Well, I guess you could say I was asked, or given a choice."

"What the hell is that?"

Shinohara picked up the ball again and began to dum-dum it, this time with awkward hands. Shinohara replied as he moved under the goal.

"I thought it would be a waste of time to just observe, so I was taken to the manager's office. I had never been a manager before."

"Heh, don't interrupt me."

"Harsh!"

As Shinohara said this, he shot with both hands. But his shooting form is a mess.

Because the jump was released long before it reached the highest point, the ball went straight to the goal ring.

The ball hit just below the ring and hit Shinohara in the face.

"Fuh."

A low muffled voice, never heard from Shinohara before, rises.

...... is pretty strong.

When I approached to call out to him as he was cowering and shaking, Shinohara looked up with a start.

As expected, the nose-head is reddish.

"Seniors!"

"I'm not."

"I hate basketball!"

"I don't care!"

I could tell by the way he just played that he was not used to playing basketball. My circle has a welcoming atmosphere even for beginners, but as expected, there is not a single beginner in winter.

I had thought about mixing them into the game, but letting them be the manager would be the best choice for both the circle and Shinohara.

Let me get up.

They spread their hands and beg for it.

I had no choice but to pull on one arm, and when I grabbed it around the second arm, I felt a softer sensation than I had expected.

"Hentai."

"Don't be ridiculous."

He kicked Shinohara's words to the curb and pulled him to his feet with a yank.

Shinohara staggered to her feet and rubbed the spot where I had been holding her.

"I offered him my hands, but I didn't expect him to grab my arms. Senpai is a strange man, isn't he?"

"Holding hands is kind of sexy, isn't it?"

I think my arms are a hundred times worse. But that's okay.

Shinohara rolled up the sleeves of his jersey and picked up the hair elastic that was fitted on his arm.

She spun around to tie her flowing hair into a ponytail. The bunched up hair softly snatched the tip of my nose.

"How are you doing?"

"Cute, cute."

I said that and went to the basket where the balls were stacked.

"Oh, hey! That's all you got? !"

Ignoring the little devil's voice that descended from behind me, I took the stacked balls with one hand.

...... That guy looks so different when his hair is bunched up.

The reason why she suddenly looked more mature was definitely because of her hair.

I thought for the first time that it was unfair, even though I was of the opposite sex, to have a look that could change my impression of myself in an instant.

I think I understand a little bit why men are being dropped by that little devil.

The buzzer, signaling the end of warm-ups, echoed through the gymnasium.

◇◆

The men's and women's games are played in rotation.

The end of circle activity time is already approaching, and the only thing left is the women's game.

The women's game just started and I'm down stretching my legs, heavy with fatigue.

I felt a decline in my legs, which were heavier than usual.

Even though he is still young, his body becomes this heavy if he does not exercise properly for several months.

At this rate, I fear when I enter the workforce. The aging process has already begun.

As I was thinking about this, a plastic bottle flew out of nowhere and hit me on the thigh, making a dull thud.

"I'll do it."

Todo said, pointing to a plastic bottle that had rolled away.

I check and the plastic bottle is a brand new sports drink.

He must have bought it from the vending machine in the lobby.

"Oh, thank you."

I instantly let bygones be bygones and thanked him for throwing the plastic bottle at me.

Todo sat down next to him, wiping the sweat off his face.

"Your girlfriend's incredibly popular."

"That ain't her."

When I responded with a bitter smile, the corners of Todo's mouth turned up.

"I don't know."

I looked at Shinohara and saw that he was in the process of serving drinks to circle members. The normally deserted water fountain was crowded today, mainly with men.

He may lack the knowledge of basketball to be a manager, but if the morale of the boys is so high, Shinohara should probably stay in this circle.

"Well, that's impossible."

"What?"

Todo stopped his hand to take a sports drink and tilted his head.

"No, Shinohara probably won't become a manager."

"I think it's great that you just come to a circle to observe and suddenly join, even though you have no purpose. It's not like I have a purpose."

"I have a feeling that ...... is meant to be a way to pass the time."

I think the fact that we have been spending more time together lately is just a way for Shinohara to pass the time.

Because I'm so divided, that guy feels safe to barge into my house.

After hearing my response, Todo laughed.

"If that's what it takes to kill time, I'm impressed."

"That's true."

"You should learn from him, Yuu. Let's raise the tension."

"These things are often said."

I am certainly not full of vitality like Shinohara, nor do I have the social skills to find the best response depending on the person I come in contact with like Ayaka.

"Unfortunately, it's easiest for me to just be myself."

I have no intention of changing the way things are now.

Upon hearing my words, Todo tapped me lightly on the shoulder.

"I know. I'm relieved to see you're back on track."

The corners of my mouth turned up slightly at Todo's words.

I chewed on the nostalgic echo of the ball echoing through the gymnasium for a while.

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