Chapter 44 - Settling Things
(1)
Ueda Minami Junior High School grounds.
That day was the city tournament.
The finals... we were fighting better than last year.
But the marking on Makoto was tight, and as usual, we couldn't score.
0-0.
The difference was that for some reason, I was sitting on the bench.
A few days ago
"I'm seriously begging you!! Please join us as a ringer!"
"That's why I told you before, right? It's better to put in other members for the memories than to just win."
Then, Makoto performed a dogeza.
"S... stop it!"
"I really want to win! Just for the finals! Just for ten minutes! I'll talk to the advisor!"
Well, the Soccer Club advisor is Mickey, so it should be fine.
"I mean, if we can make it to the finals, we can win, right?"
"We lose every year, so I want to win this year!"
Makoto seemed intent on not lifting his head until I said OK.
Everyone in class was buzzing...
"...Alright, I get it, so lift your head."
"Really!?"
"Yeah... but don't expect too much."
"It's fine! If you and I team up, we can win!!"
He seemed to feel like he'd already won.
So, that's how it happened.
There were about 15 minutes left.
Just as I was spacing out, thinking it was about time—
"Toya-kun. Please start warming up."
Here it comes.
What am I supposed to do for a warm-up?
Because of the thing with Airi, I'm hated by pretty much every member except Makoto.
Well, that's not limited to just the Soccer Club, though.
Maybe I'll just do some juggling...
I picked up the ball, dropped it at my feet, and started kicking.
I'm not actually that good at it.
...I wonder how the game is going.
I kept an eye on the match while juggling.
(2)
The soccer match seemed to be taking place on our junior high's grounds.
Since it's Makoto's last game, I figured I'd go cheer him on a bit.
I peeked over during break time.
A little over 10 minutes remaining.
The score was 0-0.
Just like last year, Makoto had a marker stuck firmly to him.
I guess it'll be no good this year either.
At that moment, the students watching began to stir.
What's happening?
"It's Toya-kun."
Airi, who had appeared beside me unnoticed, spoke up.
"Cheering for Makoto-kun?"
"Yeah, but what's up with Toya?"
"Well, just look."
Saying that, she pointed to Toya, who was looking away while juggling by the side of the bench.
He's spacing out as usual... wait, where's the ball?
"Toya-kun finds moving around a pain, so his juggling is always like that."
Just how lazy is he?
But isn't it more of a pain to learn how to juggle without moving at all?
The game stopped.
It was Toya's turn.
"Why is Katagiri coming in..."
"Even though it's a tie..."
"If we lose, it's Katagiri's fault."
While everyone said whatever they wanted, Airi directed a hopeful gaze toward Toya.
Is it really okay?
Toya was wandering around the field.
He was glancing around at the ground.
...Does he even have any motivation?
Naturally, boos broke out.
"It's starting! Toya-kun's play."
Airi announced.
I shifted my gaze to Toya on the field.
Then...
(3)
It hasn't rained lately.
The grounds are normal.
I can manage with this.
Makoto has the ball.
The place where I should originally be is completely open space.
There's no one marking me.
While thinking that, I dashed into the space.
As if he had read it, Makoto's pass flew toward me.
I messed up.
At this timing, it should have been the left foot.
I'm not good with my left, though.
Well, there's little time left, so I'll use that as an excuse if I mess up.
There, the ball came.
I kicked it with my left foot.
The ball drew an arc and headed toward the goal.
The keeper hesitated.
Don't hesitate.
But the ball seemed... as if it were hated by the goalpost.
The keeper had lost his posture.
The ball that hit the post bounced back... and rolled right in front of Makoto.
Makoto pushed the ball in.
Peee!!
Phew... somehow I finished my role.
There's almost no time left.
And then the signal for the end sounded.
We won.
Makoto hugged me immediately.
He must have been incredibly happy.
"Thanks!! Toya!!"
I'm exhausted just from moving for ten minutes.
(4)
"Toya, that was amazing!"
"Right! Toya-kun is always like that!"
"Why the hell doesn't he aim to be a soccer player with that!"
"Because it's tiring! That's so like Toya-kun!"
Airi rejoiced at the play of Toya and me, whose excitement hadn't cooled.
The two of them were hugging and celebrating.
Emotions really run high at times like this.
Well, there's also the matter of settling things regarding these feelings for Toya.
I had been sending a message to Makoto.
"I have something to talk about when I come to pick you up tonight. If you tell Toya, I'll blow you away."
"You lot, class has already started."
It was Hasuke from student guidance.
Everyone scattered.
We also returned to the classroom.
After school.
Classes ended in the morning on this day.
I returned home just the two of us with Toya.
"Toya, you're amazing. I didn't think you could do a stunt like that."
"Well, like I said before, I was a loner, so I acquired that kind of play."
"Normally people don't do that. Doing it is more of a pain."
"I'm told that often."
"...Toya, I'm sorry."
"For what? ...Hey!"
I was clinging to Toya's arm.
"I-if someone else saw us like this..."
"Just for today, please..."
"...Alright. But..."
"What?"
"Keep it a secret from Airi, okay?"
"Of course!"
After that, the time spent with Toya until Airi arrived.
I didn't particularly feel conscious of it.
The two of us studied while talking.
Then we ate.
Then we studied again.
Eventually, Airi arrived.
After that, we studied while asking about things I didn't understand.
As usual, Airi's explanations were incomprehensible to an ordinary person.
Apparently, there are people in the world who, when asked what day of the week December 4, 1990 was, answer, "It was Tuesday, but? Why do you ask?"
Airi was exactly that.
"Isn't it normal?"
It's not normal.
As we were doing that, the doorbell rang—ding-dong.
"Kanna, didn't she arrive?"
"Seems so."
I'm nervous; it feels like my chest is going to burst.
"What's wrong? You're not the usual Kanna."
Toward Toya, who looked like he didn't understand what was happening, Airi, sensing something, stopped her by calling "Kanna."
"What is it?"
"...Good luck!"
That's a complete declaration of defeat.
"Thanks."
A single word toward the bewildered Toya.
"Well, see you tomorrow!"
(5)
On the way home.
I walk home with Kanna-san as usual.
Today's Kanna-san is not like herself.
She's fidgety, or rather, something is strange.
The message from earlier also bothers me.
"Kanna-san? What was that message from earlier?"
Toya isn't here, so it's fine to ask now, right?
"Ah, that..."
Saying that, Kanna-san stopped walking.
?
"I told you before, right? 'I'll wait until you forget.'"
"Yeah..."
"Makoto was cool today."
"That was because of Toya's pass..."
"No talking about Toya tonight."
Suddenly, Kanna-san hugged me.
"W-what's wrong, Kanna-san?"
"It's about time I settled things. I'm causing trouble for both you and Toya."
"Kanna-san..."
"I've been thinking this for a while, but stop with that 'Kanna-san.' You don't need to use -san."
"Eh, but..."
"Makoto really is dense when it comes to himself."
What does that mean?
Can I hope for something?
"Do you still like me?"
"Of course, I told you, right? That I'll wait forever."
"Then, stop waiting already."
Eh?
"...This time, it's my turn to chase. I won't let you get away."
Are you serious!?
"Kanna-san, no, Kanna..."
"Makoto..."
On the moonlit roadside, illuminated by the moonlight, we kissed.
We had done it before we broke up in the past, but it was different from that time.
She was looking at me.
"I have to say it properly, right. I love you, Makoto."
Finally, my feelings reached her.
Between the match and this, today is full of good things.
"This time for sure, yoroshiku. Kanna."
"Yeah, Makoto."
And so, I saw Kanna home and headed for my own house.
"This is for the best, right..."
It sounded like Kanna whispered that while watching my back as I left.
(6)
"Well, see you tomorrow. Airi."
"Yeah, Toya-kun..."
"What?"
"You were cool today."
"You were watching."
"Yeah, I burned it into my eyes. Toya-kun should aim to be a soccer player too."
"I'm fine, because it's tiring. Though it seems I've secured a safety net."
"Eh?"
"Excuse me, but what is your name?"
An unfamiliar man asked for my name.
"Ah, this guy is called Katagiri."
Makoto answered, grabbing me by the scruff of my neck.
"Ah, I am a scout."
Saying that, he handed me a business card.
It said he was a soccer club scout for Ida High.
"Tada-kun's instinct for goals is sharp. However, that accurate pass before it—that was intentional, wasn't it?" (T/N: possible typo in source — original reads Tada-kun)
"Well, yes."
"I would definitely like you to come to our high school! As a scholarship student."
"Toya, this is a chance!"
Makoto was excited.
"But, I've already decided on my school of choice."
"I see. Well, please contact me if you change your mind."
Saying that, the scout man departed.
"You're being way too wasteful!"
"Because I decided to go to the same high school as Airi. Kanna too, though."
"I see..."
Makoto said nothing more than that.
"What a waste..."
"After that, it was a struggle with scouts from the local J-League and such."
"It's fine if you want to do soccer seriously, you know?"
"I told you, I want to go to the same high school as Airi. To be with Airi. Kanna is coming too, though."
"Yeah."
"With this, I say goodbye to soccer."
"Yeah."
Saying that, I went home.
Makoto will probably have a hard time preparing for the prefectural tournament.
I've had quite enough of being a ringer.