Chapter 86: Unsettling

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Translator: Soafp

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Hatsune-san had said it was fine to go home at a reasonable time.

But the match was already over. Hoshigaoka High School had played two matches.

“What am I doing?”

It was already past 1 PM.

The students from Hoshigaoka High were no longer on the court.

Another school's team had started their match, and I was completely an outsider.

I wasn't going to be asked to play, but honestly, I felt like a strange person.

“—Pass!!”

“—Nice shot!”

“—It's not over yet!!”

“…”

In this place filled with excitement, where I could feel the “youth,”

I realized this was a place I had never stood in before. It felt fresh and bittersweet, making me want to stay forever.

Strangely, I felt the urge to grab a pen. I wanted to escape into that imaginary world.

Even though I didn't belong there at all. I knew that if I stood up from here, it would only feel hollow—

Ping!

Momo: “Thanks for watching the match!”

Hajime Toumachi: “Yeah. You really shined out there.”

Momo: “N-no way!”

Momo: (blushing cat stamp)

Momo: “See you at 3 PM at XX Station!”

Hajime Toumachi: “Yeah.”

With that response, I stood up from my seat. Even though I hadn't done anything, my stomach started to growl.

…I think Hatsune-san said they were going to a family restaurant after the match.

I should probably eat something before that.

I didn't feel like going home, so I might as well grab something near the station where we're supposed to meet—

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“Thanks to Hatsune-senpai's defense—”

“You're seriously the ace!”

“Throwing it in from above the enemy team was so cool!”

…Why?

From a distance, I could see the people I had been watching earlier.

But the group had shrunk to about ten people or so.

They were sitting on the opposite side from me, so I couldn't see their faces—

“Haha, it's because I'm tall…”

“It's all about physicality!”

“You're really popular, should I switch places with you, Momo?”

“Come on, no way!”

Of course, Hatsune-san was there too.

…This isn't a family restaurant, though.

It's a burger joint that anyone can easily enter.

The hamburger I was holding was shaking in my hand.

I was about to lose the pickles. But maybe that's okay (the worst possible).

It was incredibly awkward.

Thanks to my innate stealth skills (wearing my beanie as low as possible), Hatsune-san hadn't noticed me.

This was like that time in middle school when, after the sports day, I went for barbecue with my parents, and a group of classmates came into the same restaurant.

…Ah…ah… (mental breakdown starting).

“…”

But no, it's different (an excuse to the void).

I'm going to hang out with her after this, right?

In other words—I’m not the same as I was “back then.”

Is this the strength of having “friends”…?

I've grown, Mom, Dad, little sister. That awkwardness from back then is gone now.

I could taste the hamburger (170 yen) properly—

—“Oh, there they are!! Where have you guys been?”

—“Man, that was a tough match because of all the assignments!”

Just then, I heard a loud voice. With heavy makeup and a rough tone, those two appeared.

The moment those obviously university students showed up…

“…Eh, how?”

“We just saw you at the family restaurant…”

I could feel the air freeze even I sensed it.

That indescribable atmosphere. The expressions on their faces clouded over.

It was unsettling.

“Uh, um…”

“Sorry, we're in the middle of a reflection meeting.”

“Oh? For that, the atmosphere seems pretty relaxed, huh?”

“Seriously, it wasn't this easygoing back in our day, right, Kashiwagi?”

“…I'm sorry.”

The person who looked like the captain kept bowing their head.

They were closing in—based on the conversation, they were two former members of the basketball club.

But this is a burger joint.

I was caught in some messed-up situation (a terrible pun).

But I couldn’t just stand around!

“Today is special. The second-years have to come with us. It's a reflection meeting.”

“Get ready.”

“Wait.”

“Um, I have other plans after this…”

“Oh!?”

“You have something more important than us?”

The two university students closed in on the table.

And the first to reject was—

“I-I'm really sorry! I can't today—”

Hatsune-san.

She was tall and had achieved results in the match.

“Hmm? You're annoying, just tall and with a big attitude, huh?”

“Your plans probably aren't that important anyway.”

“No, well…”

“…Hey. Is this girl…”

“Could it be— a guy?”

The atmosphere turned increasingly ominous.

“N-No, it's not…”

“…Tch! That reaction definitely gives it away!”

“Come on, we'll finish this quickly. It'll be a special lesson just for you.”

…This is bad.

I could tell that their words were a lie.

“I really have something to do…”

“Just come with us.”

“I'll teach you as a former center.”

“W-Will it really be quick?”

“Hahaha, yeah!”

“Right, it'll be super quick! Kashiwagi, we will borrow her!”

With that,

Hatsune-san and the two university students headed toward the stairs.

“—!”

Without considering what would happen afterward,

I realized my feet were moving.