Chapter 175 - Don't Give Up
(1)
Eguchi-san's new villa is spacious.
The facilities are abundant; in addition to the lodging wing, there is even a gymnasium.
Two people face each other on the basketball court. Kimoto-senpai and Toya-kun.
They are using half the court. Toya-kun is on defense.
Toya-kun maintains a certain distance from Kimoto-senpai, keeping his hips low, knees bent, and upper body upright in a defensive stance.
As he does so, he gives his trousers a quick tug and lightly touches the floor.
Kimoto-senpai is no amateur. Lowering his hips slightly and bending his knees, he takes a half-turn stance and begins to dribble with the hand furthest from Toya-kun.
While the thumping sound of the dribble echoes through the gymnasium, the staring contest between the two continues. The people around them watch over the scene.
The one to move first is Kimoto-senpai.
While guarding Toya-kun, he attempts to break through Toya-kun's left side.
However, Toya-kun's footwork is light. He immediately side-steps to the left and blocks Kimoto-senpai's path.
Kimoto-senpai switches the hand he is dribbling with and tries to move to the opposite side, but Toya-kun responds instantly.
Kimoto-senpai backs away and attempts a fadeaway shot. But with a shot that slow...
He becomes prey to Toya-kun's block shot.
Toya-kun is the first to retrieve the loose ball.
"You can move quite well even without basketball shoes,"
Kimoto-senpai praises Toya-kun.
"What do you think? Want to try offense too?"
"Is that okay?"
"I want to see how you play."
Now they switch offense and defense.
It's unfortunate for Kimoto-senpai, but you really shouldn't let Toya-kun play offense.
Because the match will be decided in an instant.
Kimoto-senpai takes a defensive stance, just as Toya-kun had done earlier. Toya-kun's position is nearly one meter beyond the three-point line.
Naturally, Kimoto-senpai defends near the three-point line.
Toya-kun does not budge.
Toya-kun's plays always begin suddenly.
With an incredible quick motion, Toya-kun jumps and shoots. Moreover, it's a fadeaway...
Kimoto-senpai hurriedly tries to block, but he is too late; he cannot reach it.
The ball enters the goal as if being sucked in.
Kimoto-senpai is stunned. However, he pleads with Toya-kun, "One more time."
"Then I'll do it without 3Ps this time."
Saying so, Toya-kun stands at the half-line and begins to dribble.
Having heard that he wouldn't take 3Ps, the senior begins defending from a significantly deeper position.
"Isn't it a disadvantage to say yourself that you won't do 3Ps~?"
"Toya-kun is a Small Forward."
He intended this as a reply to Hanayama-san's question.
"?"
While Hanayama-san tilts her head, Toya-kun begins to move.
Toya-kun attempts a breakthrough to Kimoto-senpai's right. Kimoto-senpai reacts and blocks Toya-kun's path. Toya-kun glances at the goal.
Toya-kun's shooting accuracy is amazing.
Knowing this, Kimoto-senpai moves in to block.
However, Toya-kun uses a back-behind move to switch the hand holding the ball and slips through Kimoto-senpai's left side.
Nothing stands in Toya-kun's way.
Toya-kun jumps and immediately finishes with a dunk.
Everyone was taken aback.
"Now I understand why everyone scouts Katagiri-kun,"
Kimoto-senpai says, standing frozen.
"I want to try competing too~ in tennis,"
Hanayama-san suddenly blurts out. Toya-kun thinks for a while.
"Sure."
"Hoe?"
"Eh?"
At Toya-kun's answer, Hanayama-san and I doubted our ears.
"Is there a tennis court too, Eguchi-san?"
Ignoring us, Toya-kun asks Eguchi-san if there is a tennis court.
"There is... there are rackets and balls as well."
We moved to the tennis court.
"Toya-kun, have you ever played tennis?"
As far as I know, I don't think he has...
"No. I was just a bit curious."
He says no...
"Hanayama-san, could you teach me a bit about the rules?"
"Eh, y-yes, I can~"
A smile leaked into Hanayama-san's words.
She likely wanted to become intimate by teaching this person, Toya-kun, who was probably a beginner, this and that. That must have been her thought.
Toya-kun has Hanayama-san teach him various shots, starting from how to serve. I felt jealous when Hanayama-san took his hand and pressed her body against him, but Toya-kun didn't seem to notice and listened to the rules seriously.
"Yeah, I mostly get it. Well, shall we start?"
When Toya-kun says that, Hanayama-san lets out a voice of surprise.
"Eh? Are you seriously intending to have a match?"
"You're the one who said it, Hanayama-san, right?"
"I-I did, but..."
Hanayama-san is apparently a person of considerable skill. She simply wanted to enjoy herself with Toya-kun. Despite that, she is bewildered to be challenged to a match.
Toya-kun enters the court regardless of that. He takes his stance.
"I'm the type who can't hold back, is that okay~?"
"Yeah, it'll probably be fine."
Being told that, Hanayama-san reluctantly enters the court.
"Then—the first serve goes to Toya-kun~"
"Thanks."
Toya-kun receives the ball and bounces it a few times.
Then he checks the gut.
"Okay, here I go."
"Go ahead~"
That was the extent of Hanayama-san's composure.
Toya-kun tosses the ball and hits the serve.
From here, a one-sided public execution began.
Of Hanayama-san, by Toya-kun.
The ball speed was not that of a beginner. Hanayama-san is hammered by shots hitting the very edge of the lines.
In the first game, Hanayama-san, unable to respond to Toya-kun's serves, lost straight.
Even when the serve changed, nothing changed.
The balls Toya-kun returned were so fast that even Hanayama-san couldn't return them properly.
Without it becoming a rally, Hanayama-san unilaterally dropped points.
At this point, I started to feel sorry for Hanayama-san.
But no one could tell Toya-kun to "go easy on her."
It was by no means because they viewed Hanayama-san as an enemy.
It was because they knew that such a word would wound her pride.
Right, Toya-kun had a special skill called the Zone.
In the end, Toya-kun won 6-0.
"H-huh... Are you really a beginner?"
Saying so, Hanayama-san wipes away sweat and something else with a towel.
"It's my first time trying it, but tennis is interesting too."
"If you think so, why not join the tennis club?"
"I don't have time for circles. I want to cherish the time I spend with Airi."
"Isn't it suffocating to be so tied down~?"
"I don't feel like I'm being tied down. Doing things together as a pair is what's important."
"I can't understand that... I've sweated, so I want to take a shower. May I use the bath~?"
"Go ahead, I'll show you the way."
When Eguchi-san said that, the two of them headed toward the lodging wing.
Once Hanayama-san left, praises were sent to Toya-kun one after another.
"Are you just good at any ball game?" Makoto-kun asked.
"In that case, you should be able to do golf too, right? I wonder if this villa has a golf course?"
I don't think such a villa exists.
"There's no course, but there is a driving range," Ishihara-kun says.
"Wait, I'll contact Emi."
Ishihara-kun operates his smartphone and calls Emi. After finishing the call, he says, "Go on ahead."
When we arrive at the practice range, there are several stalls. It seems several sets of clubs are kept there.
First, Shimizu-san hits a few times as a model.
After that, she provides guidance while watching several people line up and hit.
Toya-kun gazes at Shimizu-san's back.
Poke
"Toya-kun, where were you looking? What are you looking at in front of your fiancée?"
"I was looking at Shimizu-san's back."
"You say it so boldly, do you not feel anything?"
"Ah, no. I just thought her style was quite well-defined."
Poke poke
"Toya-kun, you idiot! I'm just childish in build!"
"Airi, aren't you misunderstanding? By style, I mean the style of her swing."
"Hoe?"
"No, I was just captivated, thinking as expected of the golf club."
Come to think of it, Toya-kun isn't hitting.
"I mostly get it, so I think I'll try hitting soon. Airi, step back."
"Okay."
As he said that, I watched from behind.
I wondered if Toya-kun had even stolen the posture, because he looked the part perfectly.
At the top of the swing, the movement stops dead for an instant, and then he swings through! The ball, caught in the center of the club, flies off with momentum and shakes the net.
Everyone watching is stunned. The people practicing are too. Above all, Shimizu-san was surprised.
"How can you hit a ball like that from the first shot?"
"No, you see, I can see something. A light connecting the driver and the ball. By the way, Ishihara-kun, what is that flag way back there?"
"Ah, there's a Cup there for now."
When Ishihara-kun said that, Toya-kun said something unbelievable.
"That means it's okay to aim for that, right?"
"Eh?"
Saying so, Toya-kun swings back again.
This time, he hits it up without any hesitation.
It didn't have the same momentum as before, but the ball floated, swayed by the wind... and entered the Cup.
"...You really can see it?"
"Yeah, I can see the flow of the wind and things clearly."
This day ended up being nothing more than a debut of Toya-kun's special ability.
(2)
"How was it? That Katagiri-kun from earlier? He seemed different from the Katagiri-kun you imagined."
"He certainly seems to have good athletic nerves."
"He's good at soccer too."
"I've heard that."
"Do you remember Airi-chan saying before? That Katagiri-kun is good at peeking into people's hearts."
"I remember."
"Watanabe-kun seems to categorize Toya-kun's abilities into two types, 'Zone' and 'Flow State,' but it's probably the Zone state during sports. It seems that when Katagiri-kun concentrates, he sees something that we cannot see. We call that 'Toya's World.'"
Zone. Any athlete who exercises has likely heard of it. An ability they likely long for.
Is it being said that Toya-kun possesses such an ability?
Can one enter such a state so easily?
"Did you notice? That Katagiri-kun's eye color changed when he held the racket."
"No, I didn't see that far."
"While you might have been happy to have skinship with him, he was alone, confirming your movements, the state of the court, the feel of the racket and ball, and so on. That is why he can hit such shots without hesitation."
I see, so the interaction with me was nothing more than a lesson. But what is the point of telling me this?
"Why are you telling me these things?"
Eguchi-san continues the conversation expressionlessly.
"He exhibits that ability even when he's not doing sports. Entering other people's hearts or entering his own world. Anything goes. Because of that, he had a fight with Airi-chan during the high school school trip."
Even those two fight. Is it okay to leak such useful information? Is this what they call sending salt to the enemy?
However, Eguchi-san continues the story matter-of-factly.
"Since then, Katagiri-kun has acquired a new ability. He creates a world for just himself and Airi-chan. He can show his world only to Airi-chan. You are trying to challenge the possessor of such a wonderful ability."
"That's not an ability he can only do with Tosaka-san, is it?"
"I don't know if it's intentional, but I've only heard about him creating a world with Airi-chan."
"If you're trying to make me give up like that, it's useless. I have no intention of giving up."
When I say that, the corners of Eguchi-san's mouth rise.
"I know. Struggle as much as you will. Because there are things you cannot acquire if you don't. Things that won't soak into your heart."
"You say it as if I'm going to fail, but I..."
"You want to say you're serious, right? I don't care who you come to 'like,' but there are things you won't understand unless you struggle like that."
Like? Me, liking Toya-kun? Does she want me to say I've become serious? I have no such intention at all. I have merely expressed my will to bring him down.
It's impossible for me to like a specific person.
"I'll tell you now, it's impossible for me to like someone."
"I think it's utterly impossible to make Katagiri-kun fall for you unless you're serious. No, even if you become serious, the impossible is impossible. You'll learn that from now on. Just like Shimizu-san last year."
Saying so, Eguchi-san giggles.
We arrive at the shower room. I take off my clothes and take a shower.
If I'd known, I would have brought tennis wear. While showering, I ask Eguchi-san a question.
"What's this about Shimizu-san?"
Eguchi-san answered.
"You know that Shimizu-san is called the Queen, right?"
"Yes."
"When she first met us, she was just like you are now. A self-proclaimed queen satisfied with leading a crowd of small fry. But various things happened, and now she's struggling to win over a dull man, to put it in your terms, called Sakai-kun."
"What do you mean by various things happened?"
"Various things. As a result, she fell seriously in love with Sakai-kun. And now she's throwing herself at Sakai-kun regardless of appearances."
I've heard the rumors about the Queen. Her popularity at the time. And the discovery of her relationship with Sakai-kun. Her subsequent fall.
It was the same for Eguchi-san. Her relationship with Ishihara-kun. And the fact that her entourage left her after she exposed her unsightly side.
I will not choose the same path. I will continue to be the current me. Forever and ever...
"Don't worry. I have no intention of making the same mistakes as you and the others, Eguchi-san."
"That's the spirit. Otherwise, there's no sport in it. But I'll give you one piece of advice. The world of love is very powerful. And the more you are like you, the more you will be tormented by a sense of loss."
"Thank you for the advice. But it's an unnecessary worry."
Saying so, I exit the shower and get dressed.
"Let's go. Apparently they're at the golf course."
When Eguchi-san said that, she guided me to the golf course.
(3)
"Today is still the first day, so we might not have played enough, but let's play to our heart's content tomorrow too! Cheers!"
When Watanabe-senpai said that, the banquet began.
With a silver can in hand, I wedge myself between Tosaka-san and Katagiri-senpai as previously arranged with Hanayama-san.
"Today was fun, wasn't it, Tosaka-san?"
The plan is for Hanayama-san to take Katagiri-senpai away during that gap.
Even if I do it one by one in order, the defense of the two is solid. Then why not try attacking two places simultaneously?
I tried that strategy.
If it's just the two of us, I have confidence I can seduce her.
"It was, but Nishimatsu-kun, were you doing something? I didn't understand at all."
Tosaka-san lets out a harsh word. That much is within my expectations. The next words come out naturally.
"That way of speaking is hurtful. I wish you'd care about me even a little..."
As I try to reach my hand toward her, she brushes it away.
"Don't touch me so familiarly!"
That one sentence was cold enough to freeze the surrounding air, yet it was a word filled with anger. The movements of the people around who heard it stop, and attention is gathered.
"You don't have to get so emotional."
"I told you before, didn't I? Trying to seduce me is a waste of time. People who are so headstrong really are stupid."
It seems I've angered her. For now, I have to soothe her, or we won't get anywhere.
"I apologize if I offended you. I'm sorry. However, are your emotions so fragile that they crumble just because a hand was placed on your shoulder?"
"You don't have to apologize. I think there's nothing more unpleasant than being touched by someone I hate. I'll say it clearly now. I hate you!"
"I don't mind being hated. As long as you come to like me from now on."
"There's no reason to like something I hate, right?"
"It's fine if I put in the effort, isn't it? To put it in your terms, 'Do you need a reason to fall in love?'"
"But I think forcing those emotions is nothing other than harassment. I thought you were a man who knew how to retreat gracefully, but I guess not."
An unnecessary person enters. Otonashi-senpai.
"Airi is clearly displeased. Give it up already."
Is this what they call the solidarity of the Watanabe squad? I feel hostility in everyone's gaze.
But this too is part of the calculation; if Hanayama-san can bring down Katagiri-senpai now, the operation is a success.
"I heard this group was a matchmaking group."
"It seems everyone isn't so good-natured as to side with someone trying to cut those ties."
Watanabe-senpai has arrived. It seems most of the main members have gathered here.
"Isn't it an individual's freedom who they fall in love with?"
"Continuing to chase someone who hates you is called stalking."
Me, a stalker? This is bad... I almost lost myself for a moment. I must remain calm.
"This is a game. If I can bring down Tosaka-san by any means, I win. Isn't that how it is?"
"You said 'by any means,' didn't you? Then we'll just have to resort to strong measures as well."
Saying so, the main members wedge themselves between me and Tosaka-san.
"No matter what we do, we won't let you and Tosaka-san be alone. Don't worry, we won't do something as boorish as expelling you from the group. I think we'd lose if we did. But you're free to withdraw if you're fed up."
I see, they're cutting off physical contact.
"Even so, I will continue to love her! No matter how much I am avoided."
When put into writing, it certainly might be stalking.
"You're just playing with me. Even someone as stupid as I can tell! So I won't listen!"
Her statement is spot on. It's just a game... this is trivial.
"I understand that you are intelligent. Even so, I have confidence I can bring you down."
"Why can you say that so definitively?"
"I told you, didn't I? Hanayama-san and I are 'fighting together.'"
At that moment, a particularly loud voice enveloped the area!
"There's no way a love like that would come true! Are you an idiot!"
That was Niina-san's voice.
Everyone looks for Niina-san and the others. She seems to be saying something to Manabe-kun.
Niina-san looks terribly excited.
Takemoto-kun and Kinoshita-san are desperately trying to soothe her.
And Manabe-kun remains silent, looking down.
"Don't just stay silent, say something! You know it yourself, don't you!"
"Mirai, calm down!"
"Niina-san, for now just sit there... you've drunk a bit too much."
"What's with all of you! Do you not understand my feelings!"
"We understand, so let's calm down..."
Watanabe-kun, who had been watching this scene...
"Nishimatsu-kun, it seems there's a bit of an emergency. Shall we have a temporary ceasefire?"
"I understand. I can read the room a little too."
Just as we were about to try and calm Niina-san down.
Slap!
A dry sound echoes through the silent night.
What is it this time?
There was Hanayama-san, holding her struck cheek, and the one who struck her, Katagiri-senpai.
"Never show your face before me again!"
Looking at Hanayama-san, she is crying.
Did she fail?
(4)
"Toya-kun, over here, over here."
When I try to move Nishimatsu-kun, who has wedged himself between me and Airi, Hanayama-san pulls my arm.
I'm concerned about Airi, but first I have to deal with this.
Everyone will probably look after Airi.
We came to a place slightly removed from everyone else.
"Do you have some business with me in a place like this?"
"Oh? Isn't a confession of love better when it's just the two of us?"
Ah, so that's it.
"Then, the answer is 'no.' See ya."
Hanayama-san grabs my arm as I try to leave.
"I haven't even said anything yet, isn't that too cruel~?"
Saying so, Hanayama-san smiles.
"That's the kind of group you are, right? The 'Watanabe squad'..."
Saying so, Hanayama-san points. In that direction, Manabe-kun and Niina-san were talking.
Ah, I see.
"Then, please keep your business brief."
"I love you, please go out with me."
"That's a lie. You aren't looking at me. You're just exposing hostility toward Airi, who is beyond me."
"How do you know?"
"I can tell by looking at your eyes."
"Look at me properly~"
"I am looking."
It was then that I heard Airi's scream.
Did something happen?
As I try to return to Airi, Hanayama-san's arm does not permit it.
"Since you're Nishimatsu-kun, you won't do things like making a woman cry~"
I finally grasped the situation.
"Were you in cahoots?"
"I declared that we'd fight together, didn't I?"
"Is it okay to say such things? I think it'll only make it more impossible for me to fall for you."
"Won't you stop being able to say that? If Tosaka-san falls, won't Toya-kun be all alone?"
"That will never happen with Airi."
"Then why are you so impatient now?"
I was at a loss for words.
See, bonds of love aren't things that crumble so easily.
It sounded as if Hanayama-san was saying that.
At that moment, a voice was heard from another direction.
From the direction of Niina-san and Manabe-san.
I don't know what happened, but everyone begins to move to stop them.
Just as I was about to head that way.
My arm is pulled back sharply.
And a slender arm wraps around my neck.
Her breast touches my body; it's soft.
And the next thing I felt was something hot and soft touching my lips.
She was kissing me.
"How is it? The taste of my lips?"
At first, my mind went blank. That gradually dyed itself the color of anger. Ah, I'm going to do it again.
Slap!
I had slapped her cheek.
A man shouldn't raise his hand to a woman. I knew that, but I couldn't stop myself.
I've done something irreversible. What should I say to Airi? I have no choice but to apologize with all my might.
"Cruel... even though I'm serious too..."
Is this woman still playing this three-line play?
"Never show your face before me again!"
This is the end.
However, she said.
"I told you, didn't I? That I'm serious... I won't give up."
Saying so, she returns to the others.
"Toya-kun, what happened?"
Airi rushed to my side.
Is Airi okay?
That's what I should say. I understood that in my head. But what came out of my mouth was...
"Airi... I'm sorry!"
I bowed my head to Airi.
"Hoe?"
Airi, not fully grasping the situation.
"Hey, Toya!! Help me out."
When Watanabe-kun said that, Airi smiled and said, "You should go." I couldn't say the words that would break that smile of Airi's.
"Airi, is it okay if we can be alone after the bath?"
"?"
"I have something important to talk about."
"Eh..."
For a moment, Airi's expression darkens. But she smiled and said, "Okay."
I walk toward the source of the commotion with Airi.
I wonder what Airi thinks?
It's not like this is the end, right?
There is nothing as fragile as the bonds of love.
Those words were now piercing my chest.