Chapter 235 - Trembling Heart
(1)
Toya-kun was scary last night.
Driving back and forth through the mountains over and over.
He had none of his usual composure.
A reckless drive that seemed to scream, "Come out!"
Around the time he was running low on gas, he filled up at a nearby self-service station, went home, and slept.
Is it okay to wake him up?
Is he still in a bad mood?
I try waking him up timidly.
"Good morning, Toya-kun."
Hiding my anxious expression, I try to look as bright as possible.
"Good morning, Airi. It was late last night, wasn't it? You can keep sleeping if you're tired."
He's the usual Toya-kun.
I cling to him.
"I'm okay. I'm relieved."
"Relieved about what?"
Does Toya-kun not remember yesterday?
Should I tell him?
While I am hesitating, Toya-kun pulls me closer.
"It's okay. I've regained my composure quite a bit now."
"Then, shall we go to practice?"
"I guess so."
As Toya-kun changes, I change too.
Then, after leaving the house, I hop on my electric bicycle.
I jog for about an hour before returning home.
Then, I prepare breakfast.
During that time, Toya-kun takes a shower and gets ready.
After having breakfast, Toya-kun returns to his room. I leave the cleaning to Maya-san and return to my room to get my clothes and take a shower.
After that, I make some coffee, and when I return to the room, Toya-kun is watching TV.
They were reporting on yesterday's accident.
I wonder if Toya-kun will harbor those bad feelings again?
I looked at Toya-kun's face anxiously.
When Toya-kun noticed my gaze, he smiled back.
"I won't do what you're thinking, Airi. My head cooled down after I slept."
Poof
"I was worried, you know. Apologize to everyone."
Toya-kun picks up his smartphone and types, "Sorry about last night."
"I hope you apologized to Airi too," Kanna says.
"Sorry, Airi," Toya-kun says.
It's okay. As long as Toya-kun understands.
"Shall we head to practice soon?" Toya-kun says.
Then, we took our gear and left the house.
(2)
Practice had started as usual.
In the morning, men and women practice separately.
In the afternoon, they practice together in a game format.
Both Yuki and I drive aggressively.
The women's basketball defense solidifies the interior.
I take mid-range shots to spread the defense.
The women's defense spreads slightly.
Should I drive again?
Sota didn't seem to think so.
He throws the ball under the goal.
...Something is strange.
Kyota pivots under the goal, turning his body to take a shot, or jumps as is to sink a hook shot.
Shinji also handles the post play perfectly.
Sota's shots occasionally miss.
Kyota takes those rebounds perfectly.
The inside is decided easily.
One could just call it the difference between men and women, but Kyota didn't seem to take it that way.
"Kojima, if you have no motivation, swap with another center. This isn't practice."
A cold remark.
"I do have motivation."
Kojima-san's slight resistance.
"Then why aren't you jumping for rebounds? You're a nuisance to those of us who are actually practicing!"
Kyota is angry.
"What are you talking about? Get back to practice immediately!"
The women's basketball coach said.
The men's basketball coach hasn't come today either.
"Coach~, playing against the men's team is impossible for us~ the levels are too different."
A 4th-division men's team that makes a women's team maintaining 1st-division say such a thing.
"I'm sorry!"
Saying that, Kojima-san ran off the court.
The coach probably knew the reason?
"Kyota, you persuade Rui."
"...It's useless saying anything to someone with no motivation."
"No complaining! Go after her now! Break time until Rui comes back!"
When the coach said that, Kyota reluctantly chased after Kojima-san.
In the meantime, everyone was practicing shots.
Shinji also began practicing 3-pointers.
It was Sakura-san's suggestion.
Four 3-point shots.
Only Kyota under the goal.
To achieve that, Kyota's strengthening is necessary.
But it can't be done against the women's team.
Wouldn't it be better to do a 5-on-5 with the men's team?
Kyota probably thought so too?
That frustration likely led to that remark.
I look up at Airi and the others.
She was eating snacks while chatting happily with Kana-san.
(3)
Kojima was sitting on the bench in front of the entrance, crying.
I sit down next to her.
"I'm sorry for causing trouble."
"Are you making fun of me?"
"Eh?"
"During games, you block the opponent's post play much more aggressively, right? Even against an opponent around my height, you should have attacked more aggressively."
"You've been watching me."
"Yeah, I guess."
The conversation stopped there.
What should I say?
Should I be the one to apologize?
Something feels unresolved, but it's a waste of time if we don't return to the court.
"I was wrong. I said a bit too much. Let's go back and practice. I want you to attack as usual."
"I understand. But please wait a moment."
Kojima paused.
"What is it?"
"I've been watching Akai-kun's play too. Even though the centers are all tall, I was captivated by Akai-kun struggling alone."
Since there are plenty of 2-meter class players, I probably look that way.
We don't have any... maybe in the first years.
I'm just desperate not to have my position stolen by a first year.
"I tend to be captivated by the play of Katagiri-kun, Toma-kun, and Aoyama-san, but I like Akai-kun's play the most."
"Thanks."
"And before I knew it, I had fallen in love with Akai-kun. This might not be the time to say it, but..."
Was she worrying about that?
I couldn't help but laugh.
"I'm serious. Please go out with me!"
"Isn't that the kind of thing people usually say at group dates?"
"I thought about saying it, but we could never get alone, so I couldn't."
"I see... shall we go back, Rui?"
"Eh?"
I pat Rui's back.
"Is it too overfamiliar to call you by your first name?"
"N-no, it's not. I just want to hear a proper answer."
"Fine, I'm single right now."
"Thank you."
Rui started crying again.
"You've had your fill, right? From now on, attack aggressively."
"Yes, I won't hold back. But I have one more request."
"What?"
"Can I call you Kyota too?"
"Ah, that's all. Do whatever you want."
"Yes!"
And so, we returned to the court.
"Whoa, what happened with you two!?"
Sota was surprised because Rui and I were holding hands.
"Nothing, I just received a confession of love."
"A confession from Ai... Rui, you liked Akai-kun!?"
Natsukawa-san is surprised.
Rui nodded silently.
"Since those two are back, we'll resume practice."
When the coach said that, practice resumed.
The opponent is a regular in the first-division league.
Rui is strong if she's serious.
Rui's weakness is her timidness, though.
It seems she's overcome that too.
When practice ended, I put Rui in the car and drove her home.
"See, you can do it if you try."
"I got fired up because Kyota said he'd watch my play."
"I see. That kind of play is fine. You'll be my practice partner."
"I'm happy to be useful to Kyota..."
Rui's apartment was within walking distance.
"Want to go grab a meal sometime?"
"Yes! Ah. But..."
"What? Is there a problem?"
"I'm tall and have this build, so I might not suit cute clothes."
"You don't have to be so formal."
"Yes, then. I'll look forward to it."
Saying that, Rui entered her apartment.
I decided to go home too.
After returning home, I was using a search site to look for what to eat.
(4)
When I stopped by the SS, Shigeru-san was there, covered in scratches.
"Shigeru-san, are you okay?"
"I'm taking a break for a while, so I just came to say hello."
"That was a disaster."
When Airi said that, Shigeru-san answered, "Yeah, I guess."
At that moment, a yellow EK9 entered the SS.
A junior staff member handles the service.
"It's him..."
When Shigeru-san said that, the man noticed us and approached.
"Looks like you got injured quite flashily."
The man laughed looking at Shigeru-san.
"It's your fault! Shigeru-san was—"
"Ah, my bad. You were just too slow, so my braking was delayed. I thought I could turn faster~"
The man said and laughed.
"If you really want an apology, let us compete with a blue RU4. If I lose, I'll do a dogeza or whatever you want."
The man said.
He has no intention of racing seriously, right?
Even so, I don't want any more victims.
"...If you lose, you'll do a dogeza, right?"
"Wait, Toya-kun!?"
"Yeah, fine. To think a brat like you was the one..."
"Keep your promise."
"Yeah, then. I'll be waiting, even tonight."
Saying that, he fueled up and left.
"Wait, Toya-kun, did you forget your promise to everyone!?"
"How can I back down after being told that much!"
"Katagiri-kun, this is reckless. The opponent will use any means necessary."
"Shigeru-san, it's okay. No matter what means he uses, I don't feel like I'll lose."
"That's not the point! If you cause an accident, Toya-kun, your spot on the representative team might be revoked."
"There are things more important than the representative team!"
Airi was silently operating her smartphone.
That evening, guests arrived.
Makoto and Kanna.
"...Come with me for a second," Makoto says.
"I have a promise tonight, so I can't."
Makoto grabs me by the collar.
"I don't care, you're coming!"
Makoto is angry. That's rare.
Airi must have known, as she was preparing to go out.
Since I intended to go to the night mountain, I was also prepared to go out.
The four of us headed to a nearby family restaurant.
(5)
Watanabe's group had gathered at the family restaurant.
I could roughly guess the purpose.
I was showered with verbal abuse from everyone.
"Is that all? I have things to do tonight."
As I stood up, Airi gripped my arm.
"You don't understand at all! You can't go tonight! Not just tonight! Toya-kun, you can't go to the mountain at night anymore!"
"It's irritating to be thought of as having run away."
"That's your own fault, isn't it, Toya? Making a promise on your own," Watanabe-kun says.
"Did you forget what I told you before!? I told you to seal away Toya the street racer!"
Kanna screams.
"Stop doing dangerous things before an important game!" Makoto says.
"There are things more important than the game, right?"
When I said that, Makoto said, "Is reckless driving in the mountains more important than the game!? You talked about your goals, didn't you!? Was that a lie!?"
"If it were you, Makoto, you'd understand! I can't just sneak away while a friend is being made fun of! I don't care about the game!"
Slap
Kanna hits my cheek.
"Those aren't words to say in front of Makoto! There was a time when Makoto couldn't stand on the field. A stage has been prepared for you. I will absolutely not forgive you for throwing it away blindly."
"I decided that if I can't play in the game, I'll play basketball for the rest of my life. That's convenient for everyone, right?"
"That's wrong, Toya. Thinking that stage is always prepared for you is just arrogant. It might be a stage you can never stand on again!"
Makoto says.
"I agree with Tada-kun. You're trampling on the feelings of people who were crushed by injuries. No, have you ever thought about the feelings of players who can't stand on the court even without an injury?"
Tasuku says.
"For now, tonight's promise is canceled. I'll explain it to this Shigeru-san person. Give me the phone number."
"...I'll tell him myself."
"Just give it to me!"
Watanabe-kun shouts.
It's scary when a usually gentle person gets angry.
When I gave Shigeru-san's phone number, Watanabe-kun conveyed the matter.
I won't go to the mountain tonight.
It's frustrating. Am I running away from a guy like that?
"Toya, you're ashamed of yourself for running away, right? When you couldn't play in practice games, you said it was frustrating because your body was itching. You can only say that because the stage is still prepared for you. You also said this. To me, who couldn't even practice due to injury, 'My frustration is something Toya wouldn't understand.' And that's fine, I don't want you to taste that same pain."
Tasuku says.
"You can say that because you've never been injured, and you've never been removed from the members. And there's no one who would condone you blindly taking that risk."
When Tasuku and Makoto say it, it's persuasive.
"Katagiri-kun, you're mistaken. It's not that everyone is supporting you. There are people who want you to drop out. Everyone aiming for a regular spot is like that. I absolutely cannot forgive an act that's like running away from that survival competition. Everyone barely accepted that promise in the first place."
Nakajima-kun says.
"Toya, you said you use Airi as a safety valve by taking her with you. Are you going to face such a dangerous guy with Airi in the car? If you give Airi a lifelong injury, can you look Airi's parents in the face?"
Kanna says.
"Katagiri, he's a truly dangerous guy. It's not something as mild as a race. There's no guarantee of life. You absolutely should not go."
Hiyama-senpai says.
Everyone is persuading me in their own way.
I'm not convinced, but I can understand.
But I don't know how to explain this frustration.
"Toya, you feel frustrated now. But you'll forget that soon. However, the regret from doing something that throws your whole life away will never disappear."
"Toya, you can stand on a stage that we couldn't reach even if we spent our whole lives trying. Don't forget, you want to see the top of the world, right?"
Makoto and Tasuku persuade me.
"I get it..."
"Do you really get it?"
Airi says.
"Stop doing things that hurt or damage cars! I'd be happiest if we could just go for drives together. If you care about me, do that."
"It's just as Tosaka-san says. Tosaka-san is the most important, right? Isn't that so?"
Airi and Watanabe-kun say.
"...I get it."
"That's still not enough. We need to make some rules to tie you down."
"Then I have a good rule!"
When Emi-san says that, Airi proposes.
"You'll play games at night."
Huh?
"If you're playing games with Toya-kun, that means you're not going outside, right?"
"What about when we're on a date?"
"I'll tell everyone~. Wait, are you going to take me on a date?"
"That sounds good, being monitored by Airi seems just right."
When Mika-san says that, everyone laughed.
"It's a promise. If you break the promise, there's a penalty game."
I wonder what kind of penalty game I'll be given this time?
"Yeah! This is it!"
Airi seems to have had an inspiration.
"You'll have to propose to me in front of everyone."
Is it okay to make that a penalty game?
"Airi, is it okay to make that a penalty game? Would you be happy to be proposed to as a penalty game?"
Airi answers my question immediately.
"It's fine! Because it's practically the same as being proposed to by Toya-kun already."
"But doesn't it make it seem like I'm reluctant to propose?"
"If you're not reluctant, then anytime is fine, right?"
"Toya, don't you dare break it on purpose."
Watanabe-kun says and laughs.
I went home quietly that day.
(6)
Today we toured the ancient capital again.
We saw the white windmills.
The Mezquita, where Islam and Christianity coexist.
I walk through the streets of Cordoba with Akira-chan.
Today we stayed in Seville.
Today was fun too.
The feeling that this is a honeymoon is finally sinking in.
The hotel is beautiful and there's nothing to complain about.
I captured the cityscape of Cordoba in photos.
Looking at them, the two of us are reflecting on today, weaving our memories together.
The Path of Flowers was hard to find, but searching for it together was fun.
Tomorrow is also an early start.
I set up my smartphone charger and fall asleep.
Akira-chan is already asleep.
I quietly get into bed so as not to wake her.
Despite those efforts, Akira-chan notices.
"Did I wake you? Sorry."
"Are you the one apologizing?"
Which one of us should apologize?
"I'll excuse the first night after the wedding, but isn't it cruel that nothing has happened since then?"
Ah, so that's what it is, huh?
"I just thought we'd take it easy once we got home because we're tired from the trip."
We can do it anytime, right?
"...Well, if that's the case, it can't be helped."
She seems to be convinced.
"The Mezquita was beautiful, wasn't it?"
It was, and the photo shoot went perfectly.
Looking at them, we weave our memories together.
Tomorrow we tour Seville and Granada.
Apparently, there's a flamenco show too.
I'm looking forward to it.
Akira-chan seems to be tired after all.
She fell asleep quickly.
Since I have an early start, I slept soon as well.
(7)
"Alright, Toya. Absolutely do not go!"
"I know."
"Then, goodnight, Tosaka-san."
"Goodnight, thank you."
Saying that, Makoto and the others left.
"Now, Toya-kun, let's go home?"
"Yeah, you're right..."
"It's already late, so the car is off-limits tonight!"
Airi said this, sensing that I was staring at the car.
As soon as I got home, I returned to my room.
Airi is listening to the TV while reading a book.
Occasionally, when there's an interesting scene, she interrupts her reading.
I was watching TV while playing a handheld game.
As time passed, Airi turned off the TV.
"Shall we sleep soon?"
Since Airi said that, I got into bed.
Poof
"You're still thinking about it, aren't you? The race."
"...Well, I can't say I've completely gotten over it. It's still frustrating."
"Hmm... I wonder how you can forget it~?"
Airi is worrying.
I'm making Airi worry because of me.
Would it be enough if I just said I've gotten over it?
But Airi's intuition has been sharp lately.
I'd be seen through as lying immediately.
"Let's play a game!"
Airi suddenly suggested.
"You're the one who said we'd sleep soon, Airi."
"What Toya-kun needs isn't sleep, it's a change of pace."
"What game are we playing?"
"Ta-da!"
Airi took a software disc from the rack.
It's a sugoroku game that often comes out around the New Year.
A game where you buy properties in various places to increase your profits.
"I thought this would be a fair match for Toya-kun."
"This game always leads to fights, you know?"
"Ugh... really?"
"I don't want to fight with Airi."
"And here I bought it thinking it would be good~"
"There's a way to not fight, though?"
"How?"
When I started the game, I decided the settings.
Since it's the first time, there's no need to play for a long time, right?
Then I set it to three players and set the third player to the weakest level.
"I think this should be okay."
"Yay!"
And so, I stayed up late playing games with Airi.
When an NPC tried to enter the goal, I switched to manual and intentionally moved them far away.
It might be considered cheating.
But this is the best way to avoid arguments.
Even though it was the shortest course, by the time I fell asleep, it was past 3 AM.
It goes without saying that it interfered with the next day's practice.