Chapter 74: Fighter

Reading Settings

Translator: Soafp

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“To put it simply, polo is a sport where you ride horses, hit a ball with a mallet, and try to score a goal. The polo shirts we wear come from the uniforms of polo players. The origins date back to ancient times, around the Jomon period in Japan. Back then, animal protein was quite precious, so you'd be thrilled to receive a whole goat as a gift.”

“”Right!””

“But in those ancient times, there was such an event. About ten riders would mount their horses, wield their mallets, and try to drop a live goat into a designated circle. Any kind of interference between the riders was allowed, and whoever dropped the goat would keep it—this intense traditional event from the Middle East and Asia is called ‘Buskashi,' which is the beginning of polo. From there, it evolved into the sport we know today, becoming refined in India, China, and England around the Yayoi period in Japan—”

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“Wow, ‘Strike while the iron is hot' can ride horses! You're planning to go all the way to Hokkaido? That's amazing!”

“Uh, yeah…”

Why are they getting so excited? (confused)

Aren't these girls too sweet?

To be honest, I thought they might fall asleep the moment I started talking, thinking it was so boring. Or maybe it's because I'm clearly older than them…

I could talk about polo for another two hours, but I should probably stop.

“Um, well… I want to hear about you two too. What are your hobbies?”

“”!””

I honestly start to feel a bit guilty.

They react with surprise.

“…I-I do cooking…”

“Oh really? I cook too. What do you make?”

“Uh, um… O-Omelette rice or something…”

Suddenly, her enthusiasm seems to vanish.

Does she not want to talk about it…?

“Well then, what about you?”

“Ah, um… I read books…”

“! I read quite a bit too! What do you read?”

“Uh, what was it… I forgot… maybe…?”

“What are the titles of the books?”

“Ah, um… something like ‘Romeo and Juliet'…”

“That would be Shakespeare. We have similar tastes; I like him too, especially ‘Hamlet'…”

“…”

I start to understand something.

These girls’ hobbies probably aren't really cooking or reading.

I mean, I settled on 20 hobbies at a low cost, but I'm trying to engage with them meaningfully.

But they don't seem to have that same engagement.

It feels… lacking in enthusiasm.

Though it might sound like a lecture… as the older one here, I feel like I need to say something.

“—Hey, you two.”

“”Yes!””

“You don't have to force yourselves to tell me hobbies that you think I'd like.”

“”Eh…””

Bingo.

Their eyes widen in surprise.

“Hobbies are really important things. I think it's a waste to put on a facade just for conversation's sake.”

“”…Sorry.””

“No, no! You don't need to apologize! Um, is there anything you're currently into?”

When they bow their heads, I feel guilty.

Actually, it's me who should be bowing my head for preaching like this (introvert).

“…Ah, I practice Aikido…”

“…I do Krav Maga (Israeli martial arts)…”

“Oh, really? (confused) Is it… fun?”

“Super fun! Recently, I've been training with a professional!”

“Plus, we gather as a team once a week to spar!”

So they really are martial arts enthusiasts (confused).

But they look a lot happier talking about this than when we were on the subject of cooking or reading.

“You two have great hobbies!”

“…! I-I'm so happy!”

“Ehehe…”

Finally, they smiled.

Hobbies really are wonderful things. Now I want to make curry! I want to cross the pedestrian road!

“Are you actually stronger than Yumesaki-san?”

“No way! Compared to Ichigo-nee, she's nothing!”

“Exactly!”

“I see.”

“Yes! Nee-chan is amazing!”

“She's incredible! The reason I wanted to get stronger was because of her…”

…Now that I think about it, I don't really know much about Yumesaki-san. Even though we sit next to each other, she usually talk to Hiiragi-san.

“Could you tell me about her? I sit next to her, but we don't talk much.”

“”Eh?””

“Eh?”

What's going on? Why did they suddenly freeze? Did I stop time again? (Space-time magic: KuuKiyo Menai).

“I-I thought she was a college student…”

“I just assumed based on your hair color. I never expected your were the same age as us…”

“…”

Yeah, I've only just realized how unusual this hair color is.

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“And then, she stormed into a middle school in the neighboring town. She helped us—”

After talking for several minutes, their stories were as fun to listen to as the previous ones.

…Honestly, I underestimated this.

Based on Yumesaki-san's appearance, I thought she must have been pretty impressive in middle school, but—

“She fought against twenty people by herself and took them all down!”

“And she did it without a scratch!”

I probably live in a completely different world from her.

It feels like I've stepped into a yankee manga.

Wait, we're from the same prefecture, right?

“…Oh, and then, when about ten stray dogs came into the school—”

“With just a glare, she made them all go back to the mountains! She's a legend!”

How am I still alive? There's this amazing person sitting next to me—oh.

“In our hometown, she hasn't known defeat—”

“Wait, wait—”

“…Uh, behind you—”

“—Oi.”

“”!?””

Then, suddenly, Yumesaki-san was there. Her voice was low and intimidating.

“Ah, n-nee-san…”

“I-I'm sorry for the disturbance!”

“…Oh.”

“Tch… I told you not to talk about the past.”

The two of them hurriedly left.

Yumesaki plopped down right next to me with a thud.

…Am I dead?