Episode 113: Hayato’s「Friends」

Smack!!

「Game set! Match won by…」

The umpire’s call rings out, announcing Hayato’s victory.

「Kyaaaa!!」

「Hayato-kun!!!」

「Ha-ya-to!! Ha-ya-to!!」

Geez… he’s as popular as ever.

Well, I guess it’s only natural since he’s got those looks and can play sports on top of it. Come to think of it, didn’t he do some reader model work for a magazine once?

After leaving the court and grabbing his gear, he raised the hand holding his racket toward the stands as he walked to the locker room, playing up the win.

「「「Kyaaaa!」」」

「He just made eye contact with me!!」

「What are you talking about? That was for me!!」

「Talk is cheap, keep dreaming!」

It’s really like that, isn’t it? Though that was totally a wave aimed at me (lol).

Once summer vacation hits, sports clubs get busy with matches and tournaments.

The tennis club’s no exception, and since today was an important match, both Sara-senpai and I came to cheer them on.

And this time, though it wasn’t exactly the main reason, we’re supposed to talk about the fireworks festival with Natsumi-senpai after this.

For the cheering part, we split up: I’m supporting Hayato, and Sara-senpai is supporting Natsumi-senpai.

Hayato’s fan club is still there (I’m sure Natsumi-senpai has one too), but maybe because it’s summer vacation, hasn’t the number of people increased since before?

「Wait! No way!?」

「Why, why is Hayato-kun coming this way?」

「This is bad, this is bad!」

「Hah… he’s so cool…」

Just when I thought things were getting noisy, it turns out Hayato was coming over here.

He seems to be heading straight for me.

「Hayato-kun, that was an amazing match!」

「Thanks, I was in good form today.」

「Hayato-kun, next time with us…」

「Sorry, I’m pretty busy with tennis right now.」

「Hey, what are you saying?」

「If you didn’t come to cheer for tennis, then go home…」

「Ah, I’m fine. Thanks for always cheering me on.」

Hayato’s responding with a smile, but that’s his「I’m actually annoyed」face.

He broke through the crowd of girls and made it over to me.

「Yo, Mr. Popular. Still as impressive as ever.」

When I called out to him, Hayato flashed a huge grin and raised his hand.

This is clearly a prompt for a high five. It’s a bit embarrassing and not really my character…

Well, it’d be a pity for Hayato to leave his hand hanging.

Slap!

The sound of the high five echoes.

It’s a little embarrassing… I guess being able to do this kind of thing naturally without getting shy is why he’s so popular.

「Thanks, Kazunari!」

Hayato thanked me with a happy laugh.

His「guy friends first」attitude is the same as always… even though his look is still as flashy as ever.

「I finally understand the rules a little better lately. And I’ve started to think it’s fun to watch.」

「That’s great! If you’re interested, join the club anytime. Let’s have fun together.」

Hayato seemed a bit excited by my words.

No, that’s impossible no matter how you look at it.

「Nah, I’ll pass on that. A sports club is impossible for me.」

「I think it’d be fun though. Besides, Natsumi-senpai would be happy if you started tennis, and wouldn’t Satsukawa-senpai start saying she’ll be your exclusive manager?」

…True, I feel like Sara-senpai would be happy to do that.

No, no, that’d just increase her burden, and even before that, it’s just impossible.

「No, I’m still gonna pass. Besides, it’s more fun to watch Hayato play.」

「I’m honestly happy to hear you say that. Alright, then I’ll do my best in the next match so Kazunari can enjoy it!」

He’s a really good guy since he can say things like that so straightforwardly.

But if he’s holding back on appealing to Natsumi-senpai because he’s worrying about me, that’s totally backward.

I’ve got to make up for the other day, so I hope I can do something to back him up at the fireworks festival.

「Well, I’m heading back to the locker room.」

「Got it, I’m expecting big things in the next match.」

「Leave it to me!」

He said that and struck a pose with his fist out.

A handsome guy really makes anything look good… the fans around us are desperately taking photos, though.

I watched him go until he disappeared toward the locker room, then just as I was packing my things to go meet up with Sara-senpai, someone suddenly called out to me.

「…Um, are you Yokogawa-kun’s friend?」

「You two looked really close!」

Since they obviously saw what just happened, I can’t exactly say no…

「Ah, well, we’re friends, but…」

「I knew it! Let’s talk with us!」

「Eh? No, I’m about to…」

Their ulterior motives are so obvious it makes me feel disgusted, or rather, I just don’t like people like this.

「Oh, you’ve injured your right hand, haven’t you? In that case, I’ll carry your bags for you!」

Saying that, she reached out to grab my bags sitting on the seat.

「Wait, don’t just…」

Just as I started to reach out my right hand to stop her, a hand from another direction quickly snatched my bags.

「Ah…」

I thought「crap」and looked at the person who picked up the bags… it was a smiling Sara-senpai, who had appeared out of nowhere.

「Honestly… haven’t I told you all the time that you mustn’t use your right hand?」

She said that in a slightly scolding tone while shifting the bags securely into both of her hands.

「I will carry the bags. Now, Kazunari-san, let’s head to lunch.」

She leaned in close right next to me and urged me along with a smile.

「Wait, hey, this person is with us…」

「You are noisy. Are you still here?」

Sara-senpai’s tone changed instantly.

Her expression, too; that cute smile I love so much vanished, replaced by a sharp, expressionless gaze.

「You want to get close to a man even by selling such vulgar flattery? Then go deal with some playboy around here. It would suit you.」

It looks like Sara-senpai has entered her long-lost sharp-tongued mode.

She did say she hates women who sell flattery while targeting men.

「If you have something to say, say it to the person himself directly. And do not come near here again.」

Overwhelmed by Sara-senpai’s intensity, those two seemed completely intimidated. They couldn’t say a single word.

「Kazunari-san, let’s go.」

Sara-senpai, having returned her expression and tone to normal, suddenly took my arm and pulled me along as if clinging to it.

「Sa, Sara-senpai, I’ll go with you even if you don’t pull.」

I have no memory of Sara-senpai ever pulling me along like this.

Thinking it was rare, I looked at her face… and her cheeks were totally puffed out.

「A… um, Sara-senpai?」

「If they are a nuisance, you have to say they are a nuisance clearly, or you’ll end up being swept away. Getting that close to you…」

Er… is she angry, or rather, is she pouting?

「Um… Sara-senpai, by any chance?」

「I do not know… Kazunari-san baka.」

Apparently, she’s miffed that I was about to be pushed into things without being able to refuse clearly.

She’s cute… if I say that she’ll probably get mad, but I can’t help but think it, so it can’t be helped.