Chapter 33: Sports Festival

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Translator: Soafp

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Physical Education Festival day.

Airi Sugawara, who isn't good at sports, stood at the starting line for the “borrowed item race,” feeling unenthusiastic.

“On your marks,” echoed through the microphone.

The moment the starting signal rang out, Airi dashed forward as if launched.

(Please… let it be something easy…)

She wasn't the type to actively enjoy school events.

She was basically forced to participate, so she was just running out of obligation.

That said, if she slacked off too much, she'd attract unnecessary criticism, so she was putting in an average level of effort.

Reaching the table, Airi picked up a piece of paper and read it.

(Alright, this one's fine)

It was something that would've made her hesitate last year.

Back then, she had no acquaintances and no courage to loudly drag someone along at random.

But this year was different.

Without hesitation, Airi ran toward the group of students from Class 1-2 and firmly grabbed the arm of a girl with a blonde bob haircut.

“Huh!? M-me!?”

“Yes. So hurry up and come with me.”

“What's the item!?”

“You'll see after we get there.”

The two of them ran side by side toward the finish line.

It wasn't that far, but being out of shape, they were quickly out of breath.

After handing the paper to the judge, Airi crossed the finish line.

“So, senpai, what was the item?”

Nodoka Komori was expecting something special.

After all, out of so many people, Airi had chosen her—surely it meant it was a unique task.

According to her classmates, the student council had prepared a lot of unusual prompts this year.

“A first-year female junior.”

“That's totally normal!!”

Disappointed, Nodoka slumped her shoulders.

Unable to understand her reaction, Airi tilted her head slightly in confusion.

The two walked side by side across the field, catching their breath.

Then, from the direction of Class 1-2, a male student with a cast on his right arm waved at them.

The old Airi would have ignored him.

But now, she casually raised her hand and waved back.

“Nodoka, there's something I'm curious about.”

“Yes?”

“Yuzuki, right? Fukagawa's ex. Which one is she?”

“Ah…”

Nodoka hesitated.

But she had already mentioned her name, and Ren didn't seem to be hiding it anyway.

“That's her. The girl with the low twin tails. The one with the big chest.”

“I see… She's pretty cute. I can see why boys would like her. Do you know why they broke up?”

“That's… not really something I should be the one to say…”

“Really? Then maybe I'll just ask her directly.”

“Huh!? Senpai!?”

Even knowing the circumstances of the breakup, Nodoka was closer to Ren than to Yuzuki.

From that alone, Airi concluded the problem likely lay on Yuzuki's side.

Without a moment's hesitation, Airi strode toward Class 1-2.

Nodoka couldn't stop her, but couldn't leave her alone either, so she followed behind anxiously.

“Are you Yuzuki?”

“Ah, yes… Um, sorry, who are you…?”

“Sorry for suddenly using your first name. I'd only heard your name.”

“Ah, yes… I'm Kitayama, but…”

Airi smirked.

“I'm Sugawara, second year.”

“Huh? Y-you're Sugawara-senpai, the one who's been with Ren a lot lately…?”

“So you know me.”

“Well, yeah… you're pretty well-known…”

“I wanted to ask you something about Fukagawa. Do you have a moment?”

Yuzuki hesitated for a second.

But then she nodded.

The three of them, including Nodoka, left the field and went behind the school building where no one was around.

“I'll ask directly. Kitayama, why did you two break up?”

At that question, Yuzuki clenched her fist and frowned.

“…Why do you care about that?”

“What if I said I'm interested in him as a man?”

“Then you should ask Ren directly. Why come all the way to me? You've got quite the personality.”

“These things—you have to hear both sides. That's part of it. Of course, I'll ask him later too.”

If the direct cause of the breakup had been Ren's major fault, Yuzuki would've brought it up immediately.

The fact that she didn't confirmed Airi's suspicion—there was something on Yuzuki's side.

“…Just so you know, I never cheated!”

“Cheated? Did Fukagawa suspect you?”

“I'm upset too! If someone suddenly tells you not to interact with a club Senpai because of cheating, of course I'd be confused!”

Airi found that explanation easy to understand.

To someone unaware of the situation, it would sound like Ren was overly suspicious or controlling.

But that didn't match the Ren she knew at all.

There had to be a reason for him to suspect that.

“Could I meet that club Senpai?”

“Huh!? S-senpai! That's a bad idea!”

Nodoka, who had been quietly listening, suddenly panicked.

“What's wrong? Do you know what kind of person he is?”

“I mean… I kind of do, kind of don't… Anyway, I don't want to meet him!”

Nodoka hurriedly stepped back.

Airi tilted her head, but figured Nodoka must've heard something from Ren.

Nodoka complained a lot, but in the end, she tended to follow Ren's words.

“So, Kitayama? Will you show me?”

“…Well, I guess that's fine.”

They returned to the field and headed toward the area where the third-years were gathered.

Using “a big blond guy” as a clue, Yuzuki looked around, but couldn't find him.

Apparently, the photography club president had twisted his ankle during a race, and Nagasawa-senpai had taken him to the infirmary.

“Then let's go to the infirmary.”

“…Why am I even doing this…”

Sighing, Yuzuki led Airi to the infirmary.

When they entered, they saw a bed with its curtain drawn.

“President, are you here?”

“Huh? Ah, y-yeah!”

Yuzuki gently pulled back the curtain.

Inside were the photography club president and a third-year boy sitting on the bed with his back turned.

The club president asked nervously,

“W-what do you need?”

Airi carefully observed them.

The president's flushed face, slightly trembling legs, disheveled gym clothes, and shaken voice.

The decisive detail was the damp-looking stain near the edge of the bed.

Yuzuki spoke quietly.

“…Nagasawa-senpai, someone's here to see you.”

“Me?”

A large blond guy stood up from the bed and approached them.

“What do you want?”

At a glance, Airi saw right through him.

The way his gaze slowly crawled over her body.

The openly condescending look in his eyes.

It was exactly the same as the sleazy men who had once tried to make her sell her body cheaply.

“No, I'm done here. Excuse me.”

Airi immediately turned on her heel and left the infirmary.

Yuzuki, confused, quickly followed after her.

“What was that!? You're the one who wanted to meet him!”

“You didn't notice?”

“Notice what?”

“Those two were doing something sexual before we walked in.”

“W-what!?”

Not even noticing that…

Airi felt not just exasperation, but almost pity.

“I think I understand now why Fukagawa abandoned you.”

“What's with that tone!? Are you trying to pick a fight!?”

“Why are you in a club with people like that? Do you want to get taken advantage of?”

“What are you even saying!? I have to be in that club for my dream!”

“I see. So that dream matters more than Fukagawa, then.”

Yuzuki frowned deeply.

“What do you even know!! I chose this school because its photography club is strong! If I quit now…!!”

“I'm not saying you're wrong. I'm just saying—that's your priority.”

Would you really give up your serious dream just for a high school boyfriend?

Most people would stop you.

Airi understood that Yuzuki had her own circumstances.

“I hope your dream comes true. Though… Fukagawa won't be by your side.”

“…!”

Leaving Yuzuki standing in the hallway, head lowered, Airi stepped outside.

The intense June sunlight wrapped warmly around her.

For some reason, it reminded her of Ren.

---

A few days after the sports festival, which I had to sit out due to my arm injury,

Walking home alongside Nodoka and Sugawara-senpai was becoming the new normal.

On the way home, my phone buzzed briefly.

“Regarding the matter you mentioned, preparations are complete.”

It was a message from the detective.

It also asked me to let them know a convenient day.

I immediately turned to Sugawara-senpai.

“Senpai, are you free this weekend?”

“I don't have any particular plans.”

“Then let's go somewhere together.”

“A date invitation?”

“Ehhhh!?” Nodoka shouted loudly.

I couldn't tell her the real reason.

I gave a small nod.

“Yeah. It'll be a bit of an unusual date, though.”