Episode 342: Giving My Feelings to You

Hayato POV

I have only just received the mic, yet my body won’t stop shaking when I think about what I’m about to do.

But Kazunari… my proud best friend, strode onto that big stage alone, and while exposed to all that hostility and those curious stares, he still carried out his proposal without flinching.

I can’t even imagine how much courage and guts that takes… even if it’s completely different from the tension of a tennis match.

That’s why I’m so proud of him, and I wanted to see if I could follow his example, even if only halfway… no, even just a third.

It’s not like I’m trying to ride the coattails of their complete victory. But watching Kazunari made me feel so pathetic… just sitting on my hands, waiting for a chance that might never come… when I thought about that, my body just moved on its own.

I don’t know what kind of results my actions will bring from here… I might cause Marina-san unexpected trouble, and I don’t want to think about it, but there’s a chance she’ll reject me. Plus, there’s the fear that I might completely destroy the celebratory atmosphere for those two on stage…

Thinking about that makes the tension rise even more, and my body won’t stop trembling.

This might be the first time in my life I’ve felt this nervous.

But…

Just as Satsukawa-senpai clearly showed her will to the masses who were interested in her…

Just as Kazunari proudly declared his feelings on this massive stage…

I felt like their actions pushed me forward, making me want to be like that too…

「I’m Yokokawa Hayato. I’m sorry… please give me a little bit of time.」

So I’ll… summon my courage too!!

「I’m Yokogawa Hayato. I’m sorry, please give me a little bit of time.」

Hayato spoke those short words with a dignified, straight, and clear voice.

His expression felt stiff, and his eyes, filled with a strange intensity that didn’t fit the mood of the place, were especially striking. It was like the Hayato before a match with an opponent he absolutely couldn’t lose to… no, it felt like something even more than that, a tense air drifting only around him.

「Um, Yokogawa-kun? Time for…」

「I know it’s strange to talk about something else during a question corner. And I know it’s rude to Kazunari and Satsukawa-senpai…」

「Hayato.」

「Kazunari…」

「Don’t worry about us. If there’s something you want to do, go ahead and do it without hesitation.」

I don’t know what Hayato is trying to do. But it’s certain he isn’t saying this on a whim, that much is for sure.

If that’s the case, even if I don’t have the authority to give permission…

「U-Um… well, since those two are the stars right now, if they say it’s okay… but Satsukawa-san…」

「Do you think I would do something as meddlesome as interfering with Kazunari-san’s decision?」

「I thought so. I knew you’d say that!!」

「Well, putting that aside… I also wish to see what Yokokawa-san is trying to do.」

「Oh, so you have your own will in this too?」

「Of course. Simple dependency would only cause trouble for Kazunari-san.」

「The ‘Kazunari-kun First’ policy hasn’t changed, has it…」

「Fufu… that is an absolute for me, you know.」

Ignoring Minamin’s look that seemed like she wanted to say something…

I just hadn’t bothered to check because I knew Sara-san would leave it to me. I was certain Sara-san would say exactly that…

「Thank you, Kazunari. Thank you, Satsukawa-senpai.」

「It’s not something you need to thank me for. However… if you do something half-hearted and embarrass Kazunari-san… you understand what will happen, don’t you?」

「…I swear.」

「Then very well. Do your best.」

「…Yes!!」

At Sara-san’s spartan(?) encouragement, Hayato tightened his expression and gave an especially large nod.

But that conversation… wait, did Sara-san realize what Hayato is planning?

「…Sa-Satsukawa-san is scary!?」

「…Sh-she suddenly went back to the usual Satsukawa-san!」

「…So that’s what ‘Kazunari-kun First’ means!?」

「…Th-that means… if someone messes with Kazunari-kun… gulp」

「Sara-san?」

「Fufu… I just have a hunch, that’s all. More importantly, let us watch over Yokogawa-san’s actions.」

「…Understood.」

Sara-san is right, let’s just watch what Hayato does first.

But… I think I have a hunch about what Hayato is trying to do too.

If that’s the case… good luck, Hayato!!

Hayato POV

I know well that Satsukawa-senpai’s harsh words were both a welcome rally for me and a clear warning that she won’t tolerate half-measures.

Embarrassing Kazunari, who was the first to accept my actions… just imagining the scolding I’d get from Satsukawa-senpai if I did that makes me terrified.

But I… I don’t intend to waste the chance Kazunari gave me.

I don’t need Satsukawa-senpai to tell me, I have no intention of letting this end half-baked. Even if I can’t get a clear answer here, I’m going to convey my feelings firmly.

But, putting that aside…

I thought I’d become at least a little bit closer to Satsukawa-senpai, but I’ve been reminded again that she’s completely merciless to any man other than Kazunari…

「Well then, Yokogawa-kun!! Tell us what you have to say!!!」

「Thank you. But before that…」

I take one big breath and, intentionally avoiding everyone’s eyes, head for the stairs in the center of the stage.

Walking slowly while ignoring the murmurs from the crowd, I start climbing the stairs… the murmurs at my back gradually grow louder until they become a proper commotion.

「W-welcome, Yokogawa-kun. I didn’t think you’d come up here, though…」

「I’m sorry, I keep doing as I please…」

「No, it’s fine!! …At this point.」

「Hayato, over here. Sara-san…」

「I understand.」

Kazunari calls me over to his side… technically the center of the stage… and Satsukawa-senpai steps back without asking anything else, just because Kazunari called out.

It’s truly a connection of hearts… I’m not teasing, but they seem to have a perfect understanding of each other, almost like a couple who’s been together for years…

「What is it?」

「It’s nothing. I just thought you guys were amazing as always.」

「Huh?」

「It’s fine if you don’t get it. It must be just that natural for you.」

「I-Is that so?」

Seeing them like that is heartwarming, and I want to be like that with Marina-san too… though becoming like them is impossible, so maybe if I could just reach their feet it would be enough?

「So, Hayato… you have something you want to say, right?」

「Haha… you can tell?」

「Just a hunch. But… I’m certain after that response.」

「I see.」

Judging by Satsukawa-senpai’s phrasing and Kazunari’s words, it’s safe to assume my purpose has been completely figured out.

Is it because they’re my senpai in romance, or is it just that I’m easy to read…

「Well then… I’ll say it without holding back.」

「Yeah. Good luck… it’ll be fine.」

「Thanks.」

Kazunari gives a beaming smile at my reply and stands beside Satsukawa-senpai who was waiting behind him.

I feel bad for completely crashing their big moment, but to repay the kindness of their warm welcome… I will.

Alright!!

「Once again, I’m Yokogawa Hayato. I apologize for the rudeness of suddenly interrupting like this. But… there’s something I absolutely must talk about using this opportunity. It’s for a personal reason, but please bear with me for a while!!」

「…Hayato-kun!!」

「…Hayato!!」

「…Yokogawa-kun!!!」

「…What is it? I’m curious, Hayato-kun!!」

Looking at the audience again from here, I can see that even though most of the men are gone, about half the space is still filled with people. Over eighty percent are women… and looking closely, there are many familiar faces. It’s not hard to imagine they came to support Kazunari and Satsukawa-senpai.

「To be honest, I didn’t intend to do anything this bold. I only came to support Satsukawa-senpai and… Kazunari, and I wasn’t thinking of anything beyond that. But Kazunari… my best friend whom I respect as a man, showed such inspiring courage and guts on this big stage today, it really moved me… and compared to that, I wondered how long I was going to keep dallying around. I felt my own patheticness, or rather, I felt just as inspired…」

It’s embarrassing to say this in front of him, but these are my true feelings without any lies. Kazunari’s courage, his back, inspired my heart and pushed me forward. That’s how it felt…

「I want to say thank you again to everyone here who always supports the matches and… me, and to those who aren’t here right now. Thank you, as always. and because you all are like that, I want to talk about my feelings honestly, without hiding anything.」

The people who were cheering at first gradually started giving off a confused vibe at my meaningful words… but they still stayed silent and listened, trying to hear what I had to say. When I think about how everyone will react once I tell this story… I’m gripped by an indescribable anxiety…

But I’m the same as Satsukawa-senpai and Natsumi-senpai.

I believe that being honest about my thoughts and feelings with the people who support me and care for me is the greatest sincerity.

So…

「I have someone precious to me right now. That person is truly pure, innocent, and envelops me with sincere kindness. Just being near her makes me feel kind too… I want her to be by my side always, I want her to be laughing by my side always, and I want to protect that smile… I have a precious person I feel that way about.」

「A precious person…?」

「No way… eh? It’s a lie, right?」

「Wait!? Th-That means!?」

「Whaaa!? No way, seriously!?」

「Who!? Who is it, Hayato!!??」

I knew it… but the commotion gradually increased, turning into a swell that reached me.

This is my punishment. My sin. This is what I get for my own actions.

The result of acting without thinking about the consequences, being charming to those around me, being happy about being pampered, and continuing my policy of avoiding trouble.

It’s different from Satsukawa-senpai, whose situation was mostly due to others’ misunderstandings… this is entirely my own fault.

「…I had a hunch, but he’s actually saying it.」

「…If he calls himself Kazunari’s best friend, this much is expected.」

「…Hayato-kun’s… precious… person?」

「…Marina…」

「Why I thought I should tell this story here… there are several reasons for that. But the biggest reason is because I wanted to tell everyone… the people who have supported me until now and still support me, clearly with my own mouth. And because I want to proudly tell the person I treasure how I feel, just like Kazunari… like the best friend I respect!! That’s why I’m telling you right now, in this place!!」

Now there’s only one person in my eyes.

The one I want to treasure more than anyone, the one I want to be with forever, the one I want by my side always… the person I can say I love from the bottom of my heart… Marina-san…

「Todo Marina-san.」

「「 WH-WH-WH-WHAAAAAAAAAT!!!!!????? 」」

「Hwah!? Y-Yes!!」

「Did you hear what I just said?」

Marina-san nods her head up and down many times in a cute, panicked way. Even a simple gesture like that is so dear to me… I guess I’m in no position to talk about Kazunari anymore.

But I’m so happy right now that I can feel this way.

「Um… well, Hayato-kun. I-I understand that you have someone precious… but…」

A staff member was thoughtful enough to place a small stand mic near Marina-san, so we could have a conversation, but from the look of things, has it not sunk in yet that I’m talking about her?

Do I have to attack more clearly?

「Marina-san… the person precious to me always carries candy with her, you know?」

「…Eh?」

「I first became interested in her when she gave me candy when I was feeling down. With such an innocent smile, completely removed from anything like a double meaning, really not a single ulterior motive… with a pure smile like she was soothing a crying child, she gave me candy, you know?」

「…Ha-Hayato… k…un?」

「For the first time in my life, I met a girl who was so wonderful that just looking at her made my heart warm… it didn’t take long for me to be able to say she was the most important girl to me. From then on, I decided to be as proactive as possible to be with that person. But that wasn’t out of an ulterior motive… it’s because being with her makes my heart warm too. Because she fills me with happiness. Because she’s a person overflowing with that kind of comfort… that’s why I purely wanted to be with her always.」

Marina-san’s kindness and warmth, so pure and innocent… it was a real shock to me, so radiant, and more comfortable than anything…

Because she’s that kind of person, I can proudly say she’s irreplaceable to me. This time, I can say with confidence that this is undoubtedly love.

Because… just by thinking of Marina-san’s smile, my heart beats like this…

「Marina-san. For me, you are the most precious person, and I can proudly say that my place is by your side. So…」

「W-Wait!! Hayato-kun, wait!!」

「…Marina-san?」

But… Marina-san’s expression… looked so painful, so sad.

At the sudden change, I couldn’t hide my confusion… what on earth is this?

Marina POV

Hayato-kun said I’m his precious person…

Does that mean… that’s what it means?

What do I do… I’m so happy.

The feeling of happiness is overflowing all at once… this feeling really is…

In that case, I…

「…Look at the screen!! There!!」

「…Was she at the match venue earlier!?」

「…Eh, isn’t that girl from the Student Council!?」

「…Whaaa!? Hayato, seriously with someone plain like her!?」

「…Wait, I’m losing to someone like that… if it was Satsukawa-senpai, I could’ve accepted it…」

「…Wow, they’re so mismatched… that woman should know her place.」

「…Crap… don’t say it so loud!!」

Ugh!?

But…

The voices I heard clearly…

Awakened that memory… sleeping inside me…

「Hey, hey… do you think Yokogawa-kun is dating Satsukawa-senpai?」

「I heard rumors… but if it’s Satsukawa-senpai, I guess it makes sense?」

「If it’s someone that amazing, you just have to give up…」

「Idiot, giving up or not, think about the matching.」

「Right. If you’re going to date Hayato-kun, you have to be someone appropriate… or you’ll make enemies of a lot of girls, you know?」

「Hey Marina, you seem close with Hayato-kun, but it’s really not like that, right?」

「Eh?」

It’s not rare for the girls in class to talk about Yokogawa-kun. But lately, as I’ve been spending more time with him, I’ve been asked the same question more often.

That alone was fine, but…

「Yokogawa-kun is a friend, you know? Just like Takanashi-kun, he’s a precious friend who’s very kind to me.」

Those words were my true feelings without any lies.

Takanashi-kun and Yokogawa-kun are both precious friends who are really kind to me… I never had any boy friends before, so I was happy for that too.

That’s why I really, truly thought they were precious friends.

「I knew it!!」

「How many times are you going to ask Marina that?」

「No, but I’m worried!! If Marina ended up like that with Hayato-kun, she’d be targeted.」

「Targeted?」

「Yeah!! Aside from someone amazing like Satsukawa-senpai, if a normal girl tried to approach Hayato-kun…」

「Matching is important, after all. Especially if you date a handsome guy, there’s a lot of jealousy… well, they have their pick of anyone, so they wouldn’t choose someone who doesn’t match them, anyway.」

「I-Is that how it is?」

I’ve never dated a boy before, so I don’t really understand those feelings…

Is just liking each other not enough?

「Exactly!! For example, if I dated Hayato-kun… I’d be compared to other women, right? If the girlfriend of a handsome, athletic, and super popular guy like Hayato-kun was a plain girl with no redeeming features and an average look, people would wonder why her… right. If I was looked at like that every day, I’d feel pathetic and start to hate myself.」

「U-Um…」

I didn’t really understand that either… but if his girlfriend was a pathetic person… would a boy really be disappointed?

「On that point, there’d be no worry at all with Satsukawa-senpai.」

「If anything, they’re both beautiful, so they’d look good together, right?」

「I guess for a super handsome guy like Hayato-kun, he needs a perfect girlfriend like Satsukawa-senpai?」

「That’s why matching matters. Even if you don’t care normally, if the partner is Hayato-kun, it’s absolutely necessary!」

Someone like Satsukawa-senpai…

It’s true that Yokogawa-kun is an amazing person… he’s good at tennis, so amazing that he wins prizes at tournaments, and there are many girls in his fan club, and he’s popular…

If you date someone as amazing as Yokogawa-kun, do you have to be an appropriate person, or will people point fingers and make fun of you?

But that would make Yokogawa-kun sad too, wouldn’t it?

Well, in that case, Satsukawa-senpai… no, Satsukawa-senpai has the amazing Takanashi-kun.

Takanashi-kun isn’t athletic like Yokogawa-kun, but everyone relies on him, he feels like a leader, he has surprising guts, he’s hardworking, and he’s devoted… because Takanashi-kun is that amazing, he matches Satsukawa-senpai…

Ah…

I see…

There really is such a thing as matching…

Then, if Yokogawa-kun is always with me… will he be misunderstood and will I cause him trouble?

But Yokogawa-kun said he doesn’t have a girlfriend…

And I also think being with Yokogawa-kun is fun, and I have happy feelings…

「Todo-san. I’m here to pick you up.」

「U-Um, thank you as always, Yokogawa-kun.」

「Wait… is something wrong?」

「No… it’s nothing, okay?」

For now, I’ll try not to worry…

Until the day… a precious person appears for Yokogawa-kun.

But… what is this…

When I think about that…

A little bit, my chest… hurts.