V3Ch6: Part 1

Reading Settings

Translator: Soafp

---

“……?”

I tilted my head slightly as I suddenly heard Ayana’s voice.

“What’s wrong?”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

Of course, if I were to say exactly what I was thinking, Aisaka would probably tease me and ask me just how much I was thinking…but I’m a little concerned.

I checked my phone to see if I had any messages, but there was nothing… Yeah, maybe it’s just my imagination after all.

“Don’t look at your phone all the time when you’re with a friend.”

“Don’t say something like that, as if my girlfriend would say.”

“Mumu!? So Otonashi-san says things like that after all?”

“Ayana…she doesn’t say much. In fact, when I’m with Ayana, the only time I look at my phone is to check the time.”

“Heh… Does that mean you two are so engrossed in each other’s company?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

I think that’s generally the case when it’s just the two of us… Well, even if there’s no conversation, spending leisurely time with Ayana is pleasant… Now that I think about it, I never really find myself constantly on my phone when she’s around.

“…This will be good practice for when I get a girlfriend!”

“Hmm?”

“W-What…?”

This guy was grinning from ear to ear while listening to Ayana’s story earlier, so maybe I should ask him something in return?

It’s bad for Ayana, who had decided not to force herself to ask, but it wouldn’t be a problem if it was just a little.

What does he think about Mari in the end? I was about to ask this question straight, but then an unexpected person called out to us.

“Huh? It’s Yukishiro-senpai and Aisaka-senpai!”

“Eh?”

“Whamu!?”

Turning to the side as our names were called, I saw Mari… in gym clothes?

“You two are here after all!”

Mari stood before us, her smile shining as bright as ever.

While her smile didn’t betray any malice, seeing it made me feel like my cheeks were going to loosen.

Meanwhile, when I glanced at Aisaka, he was stiff as a board, his face flushed… I don’t know how many times I’ve said this, but can I say it again?

“It’s confirmed.”

“Eh? What do you mean?”

“Sorry, never mind.”

Mari averted her gaze from me and turned to the frozen Aisaka.

“Aisaka-senpai…? Your face is bright red, are you okay?”

“Ah, y-yeah… I’m totally fine!”

Are you really totally fine?

When I saw him at school, he seemed to be conversing normally, but maybe he’s been like this the whole time and I just couldn’t see his face.

“Aisaka-senpai… When you talk to me, do you often get like this? Am I causing you trouble?”

Mari asked Aisaka while looking up at her.

To some, Mari’s actions might seem calculated, but to me, it’s because she genuinely cares… That’s why Mari doesn’t look away from Aisaka… Now then, how will Aisaka respond?

“N-n-n-n-n-n-no, there’s no way something like th-th-that would happen! It’s not like I’d have trouble talking to you, Uchida… It’s absolutely not happening!”

“That’s a lie! Your behavior is clearly strange!”

Both of them, with their loud voices, please stop with the skit already!”

Watching this scene unfold is enjoyable in its own right, but seeing Aisaka’s rare flustered state makes my back shiver… I know it’s rude, but he really suits that dignified posture befitting of his physique.

“It is strange!”

“I-i-i-i-i-i-it’s not strange!”

“Could you two please stop with the skit for now?”

Since it seemed like they would go on forever, I decided to put an end to it. While Aisaka’s face remained red, Mari quieted down instantly at my command.

“Sorry for interrupting. I felt like it was never going to end if I didn’t.”

“Um… I’m sorry.”

“No need to apologize. Anyway… Mari, were you exercising?”

Asking this, Mari energetically nodded.

“Yes! Since there was no club activities today, I wanted to move my body a bit and decided to go for a run!”

“Mari is really enthusiastic, isn’t she?”

“Ehehehe♪ I just want to do my best♪”

With that said, having a goal… in Mari’s case, aiming for good results in track and field, is admirable. Always striving toward that goal with determination is truly commendable.

“I-Impressive, Uchida-san…”

“Aisaka-senpai is amazing too. You always raises your voice and sweats a lot when you run.”

“No, no, I have to work hard like that!”

As I was expecting a repeat of the earlier scene, something unexpected happened. It was because Mari uttered something that I absolutely couldn’t ignore… something that should never have been said.

“But… something unpleasant happened while I was running.”

“What happened?”

“Well… I was approached by a strange man. He said I had a great physique and should join a sports gym to aim for higher levels.”

“A sports gym…?”

I reacted strongly to those words. Amidst the unsettling topic, Mari and the awkward Aisaka continued their conversation. In my mind, vivid memories of the game resurfaced.

Mari being approached while visiting a sports gym and being subjected to harassment… Seriously, why did she have to remind me of such unpleasant things now?

“Seriously… Are you okay after that?”

At Aisaka’s suddenly calm inquiry, Mari nodded.

“I felt really uncomfortable, so I ran away… It was a well-regarded sports gym, so I was a little disappointed.”

A profound disappointment was evident in Mari’s expression. In the game, only the fact that they visited a sports gym was mentioned, and neither the location nor the name of the gym was revealed.

“Yukishiro? Your face…”

“Is something wrong!?”

“…Eh?”

My face…?

While I do feel a bit chilly, I reassured them both and waved my hand. I had something I wanted to confirm, so I quickly left the scene.

I may have worried them until the moment of parting, but everything is really fine… Besides, if I collapsed, Ayana would probably unleash her wrath, and just imagining that is enough to keep me from fainting.

“…Here it is.”

After walking for a while, I arrived at the sports gym. It’s a place I wouldn’t come to unless I had a reason, and I’ve never been around this area before.

In front of the entrance of this building, where one’s fate cruelly heads towards an uncertain future, stands a man smoking a cigarette, glancing around.

“….. That’s…”

I know the face of the man smoking a cigarette in front of the sports gym all too well. How can a gym trainer smoke so blatantly? I forgot to make that comment as I recognized the man.

He’s the one who attacked Mari in the game… I never thought the day would come when I’d see him in person… and so soon.

“But… it wasn’t a proper encounter. Mari rejected him… to the point where that kind, cheerful girl’s expression twisted.”

That alone made Mari’s expression from earlier quite memorable.

At this point, Mari’s impression of that man must be awful, and she probably won’t come near this gym again.

“….Geez, is this how he shows up?”

Even without Aisaka’s involvement, he still appears like this and try to make contact… I don’t want to believe there’s some restorative force in the world, but to dismiss this as mere coincidence is too obstructive to my memories.

“…”

That man… I don’t know his name, but even from a distance, I can tell his expression while scanning passersby is filled with desire.

I was so focused on him that I didn’t notice the presence approaching from behind.

“What are you doing?”

“Wha!?”

Suddenly being addressed from behind… It’s a voice I’ve never heard before.

Though it wasn’t as startling as I expected, I let out a surprised sound… Who is this?

The person who spoke to me was a woman, with a flashy appearance akin to that of a mother.

Definitely someone I’ve met for the first time today… she seems to find my surprise amusing, as she chuckles.

“Haha, sorry for surprising you out of nowhere. Did I startle you?”

“…”

“Are you being cautious of me…? Me? How absurd! Why would you be wary of such a lovely lady like me!?”

Who is this person… and isn’t that joke a bit outdated?

She seems quite confident in her beauty… well, she’s undoubtedly attractive.

(…I don’t know her, so I should just leave.)

Despite the presence of that man behind me, there’s nothing I can do right now.

If that’s the case, there’s no reason for me to stay here, so I try to leave, but before I can, the woman speaks first.

“You’ve been staring at him, haven’t you? Is there something going on?”

That one sentence makes my heart race.

How long has she been watching me…? I’m filled with questions, but could it be that she knows that man? Nothing but ominous premonitions fill my mind, yet my feet seem glued to the ground, unable to move.

“Why were you looking at him? You, a student, don’t seem like you’d have any connection with such a suspicious person. Come on, tell the lady.”

“…”

There’s no malice in her smiling expression… I think.

Moreover, this atmosphere… does she remind me of someone? Feeling that way, I thought it wouldn’t hurt to talk.

Well, it might be best to talk and then head home as soon as possible.

“I think he’s the one.”

“Yeah?”

“My junior, a girl, was approached by him… She said she felt uncomfortable and ran away immediately, but I was just curious about who he was.”

“Oh, I see. That must have been quite an experience for your junior. Is that junior your girlfriend?”

“No, she’s…that doesn’t matter.”

“Ahaha♪ Well, certainly.”

At that moment, the atmosphere around the woman changed. She looked away from me and directed her gaze towards that man, continuing to speak.

“To be honest, I don’t know him personally, but he’s quite notorious, you know? He has a pretty bad reputation in those circles.”

“Seriously?”

“Yeah. Well, that’s… he tried to make a move on your junior, huh?”

“Um… I’m not exactly sure about that.”

“Even so, leave it to me. Well then, see you later. Or should I say — Towa-boy?”

“W-Wait a minute!?”

The woman hurried off before I could respond.

“…Did I introduced myself?”

That woman did call out my name. Towa-boy… It’s the first time I’ve been called that, but it’s definitely my name. She knew about me from the beginning and approached me… That’s the conclusion I’ve reached.

“…I don’t get it.”

No matter how much I think about it, I can’t remember that woman.

“…I should go home.”

For now, I should just head back. I’m not too worried about the gym situation, but it wouldn’t hurt to talk to Mari again. With that in mind, I start making my way home, keeping the events of earlier in my mind.

I’m curious about the woman who approached me out of nowhere, but for now, I don’t need to dwell on it too much… Rather, I just want to go home because I’m a bit tired.

“Well, there’s still a possibility of encountering the worst kind of people… Just knowing that is enough for now… Haa… I can’t stop sighing.”

But I have to keep going. No matter what happens, I have the courage to face it… In order to bring about the future I desire, I won’t bow to anyone!

With that strong determination in my heart, I had no idea that today still had some surprises in store for me… However, in a sense, it was also a kind of resolution.