Chapter 241 - Rivals!
(1)
"Well then, a toast to Toya's success!"
With those words from Watanabe-kun, the banquet began.
At my table were Airi, the Tada couple, Tasuku, and Sakura-san.
"Toya's finally making his world stage debut! They said it'll be on TV, so I'll be rooting for you!"
Makoto said this as he drank his beer.
"Airi, make sure you take good care of Toya. This idiot probably thinks about nothing but eating."
Kanna's opinion was accurate, but I am thinking about the game properly.
"You're leaving your hometown tomorrow, right? Will you be okay?"
"Yeah, I'll be fine. I'm leaving at night."
"Don't be late all by yourself again. You've got a rival this time. Don't let your position be stolen."
"I know."
I had that exchange with Tasuku.
"Tōsaka-senpai, please look after Katagiri-senpai."
"Don't worry, I'll be keeping a close eye on him."
Airi and Sakura-san were talking.
"Katagiri-kun, I heard you were very active in the other day's game."
"Ah, Akira-san. Thank you. How was the honeymoon?"
"It was wonderful."
"Katagiri-kun, be careful not to eat too much meat."
"Sakai-kun, I know. I'm going to eat seafood hotpot too."
Pokka
"You don't understand at all!"
I got scolded by Airi.
I know, I know... I'll eat jjigae and chijimi too.
The members of Watanabe's group sent words of encouragement one after another.
"Toya-kun, you mustn't drink too much."
Airi cautioned me.
It's okay; I'll be too busy eating to drink.
Once the first party ended, I was invited to a second party, but Airi shot me down.
"Toya-kun has tomorrow, so no!"
"I'm leaving at night, so it's fine, right!?"
"Are you thinking about the time it takes to get to the airport? Even if you say 'night,' you have a press conference at 20:00! It was written that you have to be there by then!"
"...Even so, I can sleep until noon, right?"
"I knew it was the right decision for Tōsaka-san to go with you. Do you intend to depart without even adjusting? You'll get scolded again."
Sakura-san shot me down too. I gave up on the second party.
"When you come back, I'm sure they'll throw a victory party, so let's go then, okay?"
Airi comforted me.
In Airi's mind, victory is absolute.
"If you can't win here, the Universiade will be absolutely impossible!"
Sakura-san told me.
"Please go with the mindset that you'll be coming back after two nights."
And so, we took the bus home.
Once home, I did a final check of my luggage.
Both of us packed our things into carry-bags and got ready.
Not forgetting the passports.
Once the luggage was ready, I went to sleep in preparation for tomorrow.
(2)
Second Party
"Now then, I didn't say anything because I didn't want to cause Toya unnecessary worry, but..."
We started the second party at the usual snack bar.
"Hiyama-senpai, that's tough."
"Yeah, I'm beaten."
It seemed Hiyama-senpai was being forced into an arranged marriage meeting.
Hiyama-senpai apparently told them he had no intention of marrying and no intention of succeeding the family business.
It must be depressing to accept an arranged meeting you intend to refuse.
"We could take forceful measures, you know?"
Eguchi-san was assertive.
"What kind of measures?"
"If they try to force Hiyama-senpai into a meeting, we'll tell them our family will change their partner bank."
"Emi, that's a great idea. I'll suggest that too."
Akira-san was also keen.
If the banks of two families changed, it would be a blow.
"I'd rather not take those kinds of measures if possible. I want to solve this with my own strength."
Hiyama-senpai said.
"Masashi, do you have any good ideas?"
Mika said.
"I won't know until I meet them first."
"That's true!"
"Why not just cancel at the last minute?"
"Mika, that's no good. It'll only make Hiyama-senpai's position worse."
Kanna-san said.
"Hiyama-senpai. It's a cliché, but stay true to yourself. Don't let yourself be swept away."
"I know. I have no intention of doing that whatsoever."
When Emi-san spoke, Hiyama-senpai answered.
"By the way, has that person been in that kind of relationship for a long time?"
"No, it was decided suddenly. If it had been decided long ago, I wouldn't have made a move on Sakura."
"I suppose that's true."
I was having that conversation with Miyuki-san.
"As expected, there's no way to handle it without meeting the other party."
Nishimatsu-kun said.
"It might be painful for Sakura-san, but it's necessary to meet once."
When I said that, everyone nodded.
"Sakura, believe in Hiyama!"
"That's my intention~"
When Mika spoke, Sakura answered.
"Well then, shall we all drink with the story of the Sakai couple's honeymoon as a side dish?"
When I said that, everyone ordered drinks.
Hiyama-senpai's arranged marriage partner.
That was an unbelievable person, unlike anyone I had ever met before.
(3)
"Toya-kun, it's morning~"
Woken up by Airi, I went through my usual routine.
After eating breakfast, I relaxed in my room.
When Airi returned, I changed and went to the usual gym.
After completing the menu given to me by Sakura-san, I took a shower and returned home.
Then I prepared to head out.
"You haven't forgotten anything, right?"
"I'm okay."
"Be careful, Airi-chan~. I hear it's dangerous over there."
"Yes~"
"Airi, if we don't hurry, we'll miss the bus."
"Yes~"
We moved to the station by bus, and from there took the highway bus.
Upon arriving at the airport, we completed boarding procedures and waited in the lobby.
When the time came, we boarded the plane.
And headed for Haneda.
Upon arriving at Haneda, we headed for a hotel in Tokyo.
There, I met with the staff.
"Hey. You're early this time. Is that girl your girlfriend? She's a beautiful girl."
"Thank you. Nice to meet you. I am Airi Tōsaka."
"Nice to meet you. Ah, I have to introduce you. Shimotsuki-san and Morishita-san, come here for a moment!"
A tall girl with a chestnut ponytail and a girl with flashy hair in side-ponytails arrived.
"This is Yukari Shimotsuki-san and Yui Morishita-san. Both of you, this is Airi Tōsaka-san."
"Nice to meet you, let's get along."
"Nice to meet you~ let's get along."
The three of them exchanged greetings.
"The three of you will be acting together during the expedition, so be friendly. Katagiri-kun, prepare for the press conference. A suit has been prepared."
"Yes, well then, Airi, see you later."
Having said that, I was led by the staff member, shown to a room, and handed a suit.
"Come to the first-floor conference room once you've changed into that."
With that, the staff member left.
"Nice to meet you, are you Toya Katagiri-kun?"
A man slightly taller than me spoke to me.
He wasn't at the previous training camp. Who is he?
"I'm Kazuto Aida. I play SF."
SF with that height? I'm not one to talk, but that's impressive.
"Hurry up and change. Let's go together. I'll guide you."
Told that, I changed into the suit and went to the front of the conference room with Aida-kun.
The staff member beckoned us over.
It seemed there was a waiting room.
"Yo, Toya. You're not making a late executive appearance today, huh."
"Long time no see, Yuichiro."
Sarcastic as always. I'm relieved.
Aya is as taciturn as ever.
It seems Aida-kun and Masato are on good terms.
While we were talking for a while, the staff member announced, "It's almost time."
When we entered the conference room, the amount of flashes was incredible.
I took my seat.
I was sitting on the edge.
"Now then, first, Coach. Please give us a word."
The Coach began to speak.
During that time, I searched for Airi.
Airi waved her hand.
I responded with a smile.
The questions concentrated on Aida-kun and Masato.
Apparently, Aida-kun has been studying in America.
I heard that the duo of Aida-kun and Masato back in high school was amazing.
"Has the SF been changed from Aoi-kun to Aida-kun?"
One of the reporters asked.
"No, the opponent is tall and the inside will become weak, so I will employ Aida depending on the situation."
The Coach answered.
"In that case, is the one being changed still Katagiri-kun?"
"Considering the combination with Sawa-kun, that's how it would be, right?"
Is that so?
However, the Coach shook his head.
"I think the combination of Sawa and Aida is certainly amazing, but they aren't used to this formation. Also, the two-guard system of Sawa and Katagiri is the key to the strategy."
"However, compared to Aida-senshu, I believe Katagiri-kun is inferior in terms of dribbling penetration."
This reporter is pushing Aida-kun awfully hard. Is he a fan?
"From the feeling of last week's practice match, it appears that his dribbling has also improved. I intend to confirm it in practice, though."
"May I ask Katagiri-kun a question?"
Me?
"Go ahead,"
the staff member said.
"This will be your world stage debut; what are your aspirations?"
Ah, it's the reporter from OS.
"I'm looking forward to it. Since it's my first time."
I intended to say something harmless.
"Is it your first time for the match? Or for overseas travel?"
When the reporter asked that, a burst of laughter erupted from the press corps.
"Both."
"A question from me as well; is your greatest pleasure, as expected, yakiniku?"
Laughter was heard.
They're really dragging that joke out~
"It's bringing back the results of the match along with Korean seaweed for my girlfriend."
I think I said that quite cleverly myself.
"Then, are you confident that you can win the match?"
"No one approaches a match intending to lose, right?"
"I believe the key to the match will be the combination with Sawa-senshu; how about that point? Do you think you can do it better than Aida-senshu?"
It's the person who has been pushing Aida-kun for a while now.
"I have confidence that I can coordinate well with anyone. I've never seen Aida-kun's play, so I can't say."
"You have no interest in other people's play? That's quite the confidence."
As expected, he snapped at me.
"It's not that I have no interest, but we just met for the first time a moment ago."
"The members for this time were listed on the site. Did you not look?"
"I didn't."
"It seems you lack awareness as a representative."
He's really biting. This reporter.
"Katagiri isn't used to it yet. I intend to teach him from now on."
Masato stepped in.
"Sawa-senshu, do you think you can work well with Katagiri-senshu?"
"Katagiri is always exactly where I think he should be. I think we can work well."
"Then, the Sawa-Katagiri line attack?"
"I would like to refrain from commenting on tactics."
The Coach said.
"It's almost time, so please make this the last question."
The staff member said.
"Then, aspirations from all the members."
Each of them spoke their aspirations.
"I'm waiting for my turn" or "I'm going for the win," lines like that.
I also said, "I'll do my best to produce good results."
When the conference ended, it became time for dinner.
Aya guided me to a delicious restaurant.
I surely expected a place like yakiniku, French, or Italian.
But the place we arrived at was... a ramen shop.
"You like ramen, right?"
I like delicious ramen, but...
This shop is a chain that's also in my hometown.
We talked while eating ramen.
"Kazuto likes ramen too."
"Yeah, I love it."
The members present were me, Aya, Masato, and Kazuto—the four of us.
The women were apparently eating dinner among themselves.
"Ah, you can just call me Kazuto."
Since he said so, I called him Kazuto.
"Is the duo of Masato and Kazuto really amazing?"
I was asking a normal question.
Aya's expression became grim.
"Well, that's a story from high school."
Masato answered.
Kazuto's expression sank.
Did I step on a landmine after all?
"Toya's play is more amazing. I saw the video. Once he enters the enemy territory, he does whatever he wants."
"Yeah, Toya is an amazing guy who can handle any position. I saw the previous match on TV too. He does whatever he wants."
"That's because that was the strategy."
"The fact that you can execute such a strategy is what's amazing."
Aya has been silent for a while.
Should I throw the conversation to her?
"But I can't imitate play like Aya's; our physiques are different."
"That's true."
Masato joined the conversation.
"The Coach said it too, but our inside holds up because Aya, Goro, and Yusuke are there. Have confidence, Aya."
"What happens if that inside stops working? It'll change to an attack from the outside, right?"
"For the outside, Toya alone is enough. Because it's impossible to stop Toya by himself."
"Did Masato switch from Kazuto to Toya?"
"I didn't mean it like that."
"Masato, you're in no position to be worrying about others. I told you, Toya can handle any position. There might be a scene where you're the one being substituted."
"I know."
I don't think that'll happen, though. Speaking for myself, I think I'm in a position where I'm more useful being used than doing the game-making.
"Finished eating, shall we leave soon?"
When Aya said that, everyone left the shop.
And we returned to the hotel.
(4)
"Well then, a toast to celebrate the three of us meeting!"
Shimotsuki-san guided us to a delicious restaurant in Tokyo.
Each of us bragged about their boyfriend.
When Morishita-san bragged about her boyfriend, Shimotsuki-san's expression clouded.
I wonder what happened?
Did Morishita-san notice? She was apologizing, saying "Sorry."
"I see, Airi doesn't know, right. Shall I tell you?"
Shimotsuki-san began to talk.
Apparently, Aya-san and Kazuto-san were at the same high school.
And Kazuto-san had taken the regular spot since the first year.
For Aya-san, whose position overlapped, the regular spot never came.
Even so, she was determined to win it through her own strength.
However, suddenly in the second year, Kazuto-san transferred to a high school in Kanagawa. Aya-san moved into the vacant position.
From then on, Aya-san and Kazuto-san were compared.
The strongest high school lost to the high school Kazuto-san joined at the Inter-High.
It was a humiliation like no other.
That grudge continues even now.
She said that the resentment still persists to this day.
"I think she's still anxious; if her regular spot is stolen, Aya won't be able to recover."
Shimotsuki-san worried.
"Ai-chan also said he came back intending to enter the regulars, didn't he?"
I started to worry too.
The play video of Kazuto-san I just saw on my smartphone.
He's just like Toya-kun.
I heard his combination with Sawa-san is also in sync.
Won't she be substituted?
"Toya-kun will be fine, the positions are different."
"I watched the match on TV, but replacing Toya-kun is impossible, impossible."
The two of them told me that.
After finishing the meal, we returned to the hotel.
The three of us were in the same room.
Since we might be together from now on, the three of us exchanged contact information.
After that, the other two were sending messages on their smartphones.
Should I send one to Toya-kun too?
"Good work~"
"Thanks."
"It's finally starting tomorrow."
"Yeah."
"Do your best."
"Yeah~"
"Airi~ it's almost time to sleep~. I hear tomorrow is early."
When Shimotsuki-san spoke, I replied, "I know~"
"Well then, I'm going to sleep soon. You mustn't stay up late."
"I know. Good night."
"Good night."
And I fell asleep.
(5)
I ate breakfast at a buffet.
After finishing breakfast, I changed and boarded the bus.
We went to Haneda Airport by bus and completed boarding procedures.
And headed for Seoul by plane.
From Seoul, we took a bus and arrived at the hotel.
It was a beautiful hotel.
Then I immediately changed and headed for the arena in the suburbs.
It was last night that I heard there would be a match suddenly in the afternoon.
I had heard from Masato that having a match without being able to adjust is normally unthinkable.
We passed by a South Korean student team.
Masato sought a handshake.
The South Korean team ignored it and moved forward.
Bad attitude.
Meeting in the waiting room.
The starters are the same five as before.
For now, the starting spots are secured.
The defense is a 1-3-1-1 Zone.
The offense will apparently go with the same tactic as last time.
That one is exhausting.
"Toya, don't let me hear that you're sleep-deprived."
The Coach said.
"I slept well."
"If we win, I'll let you eat yakiniku tonight."
"...What happens if we lose?"
"You don't intend to lose, right?"
Masato patted my shoulder.
When we went to the court, the booing from the South Korean supporters wouldn't stop.
Is this what they call the baptism of an away game?
I closed my eyes.
I could feel myself entering my own world.
I could hear nothing but the sound of the ball and the sound of teammates putting in shots.
I took shots as if tracing the lines I could clearly see.
I heard a shuu sound.
Practice time ended.
When we gathered and put our arms around each other's shoulders, the photography began.
When the photography ended, we formed a huddle.
"If we have even one more point at the final moment, we win; we are the ones who decide at the end. Imagine it clearly."
I imagined it just as the Coach said.
"First, let's get that first win!"
When Masato spoke, everyone shouted, "Sshaa!"
Our names were called one by one, and we entered the court.
As usual, nothing but booing could be heard.
But amidst that, Airi's voice could be heard clearly.
"You're okay, you're making the shots."
Once ten people were gathered, we sought handshakes, but everyone refused.
Is this South Korean culture?
There's no need to be shaken.
We'll just do it our way.
Goro took his place for the jump ball.
The ball was thrown high.
My first world match had begun.